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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77637 ***
+
+
+
+
+ NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE
+
+ THE RISE OF THE EMPIRE
+
+
+
+
+ BY WALTER GEER
+
+
+ THE FRENCH REVOLUTION:
+
+ A Historical Sketch
+
+ NAPOLEON THE FIRST:
+
+ An Intimate Biography
+
+ NAPOLEON THE THIRD:
+
+ The Romance of an Emperor
+
+ RECOLLECTIONS OF THE REVOLUTION AND EMPIRE:
+
+ Translated and adapted from the Journal d’une Femme de Cinquante
+ Ans by the Marquise de La Tour du Pin
+
+ [Illustration: JOSÉPHINE]
+
+
+
+
+ NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE
+
+ THE RISE OF THE EMPIRE
+
+
+ BY
+ WALTER GEER
+
+ AUTHOR OF “THE FRENCH REVOLUTION,”
+ “NAPOLEON THE FIRST,” “NAPOLEON THE THIRD,” ETC.
+
+
+ _ILLUSTRATED_
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ _NEW YORK : BRENTANO’S_
+ _1924_
+
+
+
+
+ COPYRIGHT, 1924, BY
+ WALTER GEER
+
+ _All rights reserved_
+
+
+ THE PLIMPTON PRESS
+ NORWOOD·MASS·U·S·A
+
+
+
+
+ FOREWORD
+
+
+In the popular estimation the Empress Joséphine is crowned with
+a halo of goodness which makes the task of her biographer one of
+peculiar difficulty. The aversion which many feel towards Napoleon
+is not a little due to what they conceive to be the cruelty with
+which he treated the woman who for fourteen years was the companion
+of his glory. The writer of this book holds no brief either for the
+prosecution or the defence. He wants to draw a portrait--not to
+pronounce a judgment: his object is to depict Joséphine as she was, and
+he leaves the reader to decide as to her goodness.
+
+ WALTER GEER
+
+ NEW YORK, October, 1924.
+
+
+
+
+ CONTENTS
+
+
+ CHAPTER ONE
+
+ 1763–1779
+
+ EARLY YEARS OF JOSÉPHINE
+
+ PAGE
+
+ The Island of Martinique--The Tascher Family--François
+ de Beauharnais--Madame Renaudin--Birth of Alexandre de
+ Beauharnais--Birth of Joséphine--A Confusion of Dates--M.
+ Beauharnais in France--Death of His Wife--Misfortunes of
+ the Taschers--Childhood of Joséphine--Her Education--Her
+ Appearance and Character--Alexandre de Beauharnais--His
+ Early Years--His Education--Madame Renaudin’s Interest in
+ Him 3
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWO
+
+ 1779–1790
+
+ MARRIAGE AND SEPARATION
+
+ Alexandre de Beauharnais Enters the Army--Madame
+ Renaudin Plans for His Marriage--The Marquis Writes
+ M. de la Pagerie--Joséphine Takes Her Sister’s
+ Place--She Arrives in France--The Contract Signed--The
+ Marriage--Life in Paris--Birth of Eugène--Alexandre
+ Sails for Martinique--Birth of Hortense--Alexandre
+ Repudiates Joséphine--He Returns to France--Refuses a
+ Reconciliation--A Separation Arranged--Joséphine’s Sojourn
+ at the Panthémont--Residence at Fontainebleau--Voyage to
+ Martinique 14
+
+
+ CHAPTER THREE
+
+ 1789–1794
+
+ THE REVOLUTION
+
+ Beauharnais Elected to the States-General--Joséphine
+ Returns from Martinique--Alexandre, President of the
+ Assembly--Flight of the Royal Family--End of the
+ Constituent Assembly--Alexandre Rejoins the Army--Promoted
+ and Made Commander of the Army of the Rhine--His
+ Disgraceful Failure--His Resignation Accepted--Joséphine at
+ Paris and Croissy--Alexandre at Blois--Both Arrested and
+ Confined in the Carmes--Execution of Alexandre 27
+
+
+ CHAPTER FOUR
+
+ 1794–1795
+
+ AFTER THE TERROR
+
+ Paris During the Terror--The Fall of Robespierre--Joy
+ of the Prisoners--Joséphine Set Free--Her Behavior in
+ Prison--She Returns to Croissy--Her Relations with
+ Hoche--Her Financial Difficulties--Her Banker, Emmery--Her
+ Love of Luxury--Her Intimacy with Madame Tallien--Their
+ Similar Tastes--Thérésia Abandons Tallien--Joséphine’s New
+ Home--She Places Her Children in School--Paul Barras--His
+ Political Prominence--His Liaison with Joséphine--His Court
+ at the Luxembourg 36
+
+
+ CHAPTER FIVE
+
+ 1796
+
+ THE CITIZENESS BONAPARTE
+
+ The 13 Vendémiaire--The Parisians Disarmed--Eugène Reclaims
+ His Father’s Sword--Joséphine Meets General Bonaparte--Her
+ Appearance at That Time--She Writes the General--One of
+ His Love Letters--He Decides on Marriage--Joséphine’s
+ Hesitation--Her Final Consent--The Contract--The Civil
+ Ceremony--Bonaparte Leaves for Italy 48
+
+
+ CHAPTER SIX
+
+ 1796
+
+ THE VICTORY FESTIVALS
+
+ Bonaparte en Route for Italy--His First Letter to
+ Joséphine--Her Indifference--His Second Letter--Brilliant
+ Opening of the Campaign--Bonaparte’s Proclamation--He
+ Writes Joséphine to Rejoin Him--Presentation of the Battle
+ Flags--Description of Joséphine’s Appearance--Victory of
+ Lodi--The Fête Given by the Directory 55
+
+
+ CHAPTER SEVEN
+
+ 1796–1797
+
+ JOSÉPHINE IN ITALY
+
+ Bonaparte Enters Milan--Joséphine’s Life at Paris--She
+ Finally Starts for Italy--Her Regret in Leaving--Arrival
+ at Milan--The Palace Serbelloni--Her Ennui--Letter to
+ Madame Renaudin--Her Delayed Honeymoon--End of the
+ Campaign--Napoleon’s Letters--The Court of Montebello--The
+ Bonaparte Family Reunion--Joséphine’s Aid to Napoleon’s
+ Policy--The Peace of Campo-Formio--Bonaparte Leaves for
+ Rastadt--His Return to Paris 62
+
+
+ CHAPTER EIGHT
+
+ 1798–1799
+
+ THE PURCHASE OF MALMAISON
+
+ Joséphine Returns to Paris--The Talleyrand Fête--Purchase
+ of the Hôtel Chantereine--Bonaparte’s Tour of
+ Inspection--His Sudden Return--Napoleon’s Fortune--He
+ Leaves for Toulon--The Fleet Sails--Joséphine at
+ Plombières--She Buys Malmaison--Fortunes of the
+ Bonapartes--Joséphine’s Indiscretions--Napoleon Hears the
+ Reports--His Liaison with Madame Fourès 72
+
+
+ CHAPTER NINE
+
+ 1799
+
+ THE RETURN OF BONAPARTE
+
+ Bonaparte Leaves Egypt--He Lands in France--Joséphine Fails
+ to Meet Him--Their Reconciliation--His Generous Pardon--He
+ Pays Her Debts--Her Rôle in the Coup d’État--She Invites
+ Gohier to Déjeuner--The Two Days of Brumaire--Bonaparte,
+ First Consul--They Move to the Luxembourg 82
+
+
+ CHAPTER TEN
+
+ 1800
+
+ THE CONSULAR COURT
+
+ The Luxembourg--Important Rôle of Joséphine--Her Devotion
+ to Napoleon--Secret of Her Power--Her Royalism--Assistance
+ to the Émigrés--Importance to Napoleon’s Policy--Marriage
+ of Caroline and Murat--The Tuileries--Life There--The New
+ Society--Visits to Malmaison--The Château--Napoleon at His
+ Best 88
+
+
+ CHAPTER ELEVEN
+
+ 1800
+
+ THE QUESTION OF HEREDITY
+
+ The Season of 1800 at Paris--Problems of the First
+ Consul--Success of His Administration--His Reception
+ after Marengo--The “Conspiracy of Marengo”--Part Taken by
+ Lucien and Joseph--The Meeting at Auteuil--Alliance of
+ Fouché and Talleyrand--Joseph in Italy--Napoleon Answers
+ the Pretender--Decision to Amend the Constitution--Alarm
+ of Joséphine--The “Parallel”--Disgrace of Lucien--Louis
+ Chosen--Joséphine’s Plan 96
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWELVE
+
+ 1800–1802
+
+ MARRIAGE OF HORTENSE
+
+ Louis Bonaparte--His Early Years--Change in His
+ Character--His Life at Paris--He Avoids Marriage--Hortense
+ de Beauharnais--Her Appearance and Character--Love
+ of Her Mother--Pride in Her Father--Early Dislike of
+ Bonaparte--Fancy for Duroc--The Infernal Machine--Narrow
+ Escape of Napoleon and Joséphine--Public Demand for an
+ Heir--Joséphine’s Dismay--Louis Goes to Spain--Joséphine’s
+ Visit to Plombières--Return of Louis--His Marriage to
+ Hortense 104
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTEEN
+
+ 1802–1803
+
+ THE CONSULATE FOR LIFE
+
+ Bonaparte Made Consul for Life--He Takes Possession
+ of Saint-Cloud--His Apartment in the Château--Court
+ Etiquette Established--Trip to Normandie--Joséphine at
+ Forty--Her Life at Saint-Cloud--A Scene of Jealousy at the
+ Tuileries--Marriage of Pauline and Borghèse--Unfortunate
+ Connection of Lucien--Jérôme Marries Miss Patterson 114
+
+
+ CHAPTER FOURTEEN
+
+ 1803–1804
+
+ THE ROYALIST PLOTS
+
+ Rupture of the Peace of Amiens--The Celebrated Scene
+ with the English Ambassador--The Visit to Belgium--An
+ Unfortunate Episode at Mortefontaine--First Suggestions
+ of the Empire--Magnificent Reception at Brussels--The
+ Royalist Conspiracies--Cadoudal and Pichegru Reach
+ Paris--Joséphine’s Pacific Counsels--Petty Vanity of Madame
+ Moreau--Her Husband’s Jealousy of Bonaparte--Arrest, Trial
+ and Exile of Moreau--Deaths of Pichegru and Cadoudal--The
+ Execution of the Duc d’Enghien 125
+
+
+ CHAPTER FIFTEEN
+
+ 1804
+
+ EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH
+
+ The Empire Proclaimed--The Ceremony at
+ Saint-Cloud--Joséphine Hailed as Empress--Dissatisfaction
+ of the Bonapartes--Chagrin of Caroline--Napoleon
+ Yields--Joséphine’s Attitude--Eugène de Beauharnais--The
+ Fête of the 14 July--Visit to the Banks of the Rhine--A
+ Letter from Napoleon--The Court at Mayence--Return to
+ Saint-Cloud 139
+
+
+ CHAPTER SIXTEEN
+
+ 1804–1805
+
+ THE CORONATION
+
+ Cardinal Fesch Sent to Rome--The Pope Consents to Go to
+ Paris--Astonishment of Madame Mère--Joséphine’s Triumph
+ Over the Bonapartes--Preparations for the Ceremony--The
+ Pope Arrives at Fontainebleau--Joséphine’s Confession--The
+ Excitement at Paris--Isabey’s Ingenious Idea--Religious
+ Marriage of Napoleon and Joséphine--The Procession to the
+ Cathedral--The Ceremony at Notre-Dame--Joséphine Crowned
+ by the Emperor--Her Joy--A Series of Fêtes--Baptism of
+ Napoleon-Louis 148
+
+
+ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
+
+ 1804–1809
+
+ DAILY LIFE OF THE EMPRESS
+
+ Joséphine’s Places of Residence--Her Apartments at
+ the Tuileries--Her Frequent Alterations--Her Rooms
+ at Saint-Cloud--Her Daily Routine--Her Personal
+ Attendants--Her Toilette--Her Lingerie and Robes--Her
+ Lavish Expenditures--Her Debts Paid by the Emperor--Her
+ Life at the Tuileries 158
+
+
+ CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
+
+ 1805
+
+ ITALY AND STRASBOURG
+
+ The Journey to Italy--Grand Review at Marengo--Napoleon’s
+ Reconciliation with Jérôme--The Coronation at
+ Milan--The Emperor’s Satisfaction--Eugène, Viceroy
+ of Italy--Joséphine’s Grief--Napoleon’s Attachment
+ to His Wife--The Fêtes at Genoa--Hurried Return to
+ France--Joséphine at Plombières--The Austerlitz
+ Campaign--Joséphine’s Sojourn at Strasbourg--Her Life
+ There--Napoleon’s Letters During the Campaign 169
+
+
+ CHAPTER NINETEEN
+
+ 1805–1806
+
+ MARRIAGE OF EUGENE
+
+ Joséphine Leaves Strasbourg for Munich--Napoleon’s
+ Letters from Austerlitz--Joséphine’s Selfishness--The
+ Emperor Arrives at Munich--He Plans Three Family
+ Alliances--Princesse Augusta of Bavaria--Prince Charles
+ of Baden--Opposition to the Emperor’s Projects--Duroc
+ Presents the Official Demand--The Elector Finally Obtains
+ His Daughter’s Consent--Napoleon Summons Eugène--The Young
+ Couple--The Marriage--Its Success--Napoleon’s Reception
+ at Paris--Marriage of Prince Charles and Stéphanie de
+ Beauharnais 183
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY
+
+ 1806
+
+ QUEEN HORTENSE
+
+ Louis Proclaimed King of Holland--Hortense’s Unhappy
+ Married Life--Birth of Napoleon-Charles--Louis Buys
+ Saint-Leu--Birth of Napoleon-Louis--Louis and Hortense
+ at The Hague--Joséphine at Mayence--The Campaign of
+ Jena--Napoleon’s Letters--The Emperor at Berlin--The
+ Hatzfeld Episode--Prussia Overwhelmed--The Emperor in
+ Poland--He Refuses to Allow Joséphine to Join Him--Battle
+ of Pultusk 198
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
+
+ 1807
+
+ MADAME WALEWSKA
+
+ Napoleon’s First Meeting with Marie Walewska--Beginning of
+ Their Long Liaison--The Emperor Orders Joséphine to Return
+ to Paris--The Terrible Battle of Eylau--Napoleon Tries to
+ Minimize His Losses--Headquarters at Osterode--Napoleon’s
+ Letter to Joseph--His Brief Letters to Joséphine--The
+ Empress Returns to Paris--Her Cordial Welcome--Her
+ Loneliness--Birth of Her First Granddaughter--Napoleon
+ Moves to Finckenstein--He Is Joined by Madame Walewska--The
+ Emperor Dictates Regarding Joséphine’s Friends 213
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
+
+ 1807
+
+ DEATH OF NAPOLEON-CHARLES
+
+ Birth of Napoleon’s First Child--Death of the Crown-Prince
+ of Holland--Grief of Hortense--Joséphine Goes to
+ Laeken--She is Joined There by Hortense--Napoleon’s
+ Letters to His Wife and Daughter--His Apparent
+ Indifference--Joséphine Writes to Hortense--The Emperor’s
+ Letters after Friedland--The Peace Conferences at
+ Tilsit--Napoleon Declines the Queen’s Rose--His Return to
+ Paris 225
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
+
+ 1807
+
+ THE COURT AT FONTAINEBLEAU
+
+ Talleyrand Appointed Vice-Grand-Électeur--Fête of the
+ Emperor--Marriage of Jérôme and Catherine--Return
+ of Louis and Hortense--New Quarrels--Louis Departs
+ Alone for Holland--Napoleon’s Power--The Court Goes to
+ Fontainebleau--Napoleon at Thirty-eight--The Emperor’s
+ Program of Entertainment--Life of Joséphine--Ennui of
+ the Emperor and His Guests--The Gazzani Affair--Jérôme’s
+ Flirtation with Stéphanie--Illness of Hortense--She Refuses
+ Any Reconciliation with Louis 237
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
+
+ 1807
+
+ PROJECTS OF DIVORCE
+
+ The Question of Divorce First Seriously
+ Considered--Napoleon Asks Joséphine to Take the
+ Initiative--She Refuses--Fouché’s Letter to the
+ Empress--Napoleon Pretends Ignorance--He Writes Fouché to
+ Cease Meddling--Talleyrand’s Attitude--Fouché Influences
+ Public Opinion--End of the Fêtes--Death of Joséphine’s
+ Mother--Napoleon’s Trip to Italy--His Interview with
+ Lucien--He Adopts Eugène--His Letters to Joséphine 249
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
+
+ 1808
+
+ THE EMPRESS AT BAYONNE
+
+ Joséphine’s Fear of Divorce--Irresolution of the Emperor--A
+ Remarkable Episode--Marriage of Mlle, de Tascher--The
+ Spanish Crisis--Abdication of King Charles--Murat Enters
+ Madrid--The Emperor Goes to Bayonne--His Sojourn at
+ Marrac--Letters to the Empress at Bordeaux--Birth of
+ Louis-Napoleon--Joy of Napoleon and Joséphine--Charles
+ Cedes the Spanish Crown--Joseph Appointed King--The Baylen
+ Disaster--Return of the Emperor and Empress 261
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
+
+ 1808–1809
+
+ A YEAR OF ANXIETY
+
+ The Erfurt Conference--Joséphine Left at Paris--Napoleon
+ Opens His Heart to Alexander--Talleyrand Instructed to
+ Begin Negotiations for an Alliance--Napoleon’s Letters
+ to Joséphine--He Leaves for Spain--The Peninsula
+ Campaign--Pursuit of the English--Bad News from Paris--The
+ Emperor’s Correspondence--His Return to Paris--Scene
+ at the Tuileries--The Succession Plot--Joséphine’s
+ Revelations--She Accompanies Napoleon to Strasbourg--The
+ Emperor Wounded at Ratisbon--His Letters During the
+ Campaign--End of the War--Napoleon Leaves for Fontainebleau 271
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
+
+ 1809
+
+ RETURN OF THE EMPEROR
+
+ Napoleon Arrives at Fontainebleau--He Informs Cambacérès of
+ the Coming Divorce--His Cold Reception of Joséphine--She
+ Finds the Door of Communication Closed--Hesitation of the
+ Emperor--Joséphine at Forty-six--Napoleon Breaks the Fatal
+ News--The Scene of the 30 November--A Comic Episode--The
+ Verdict of History--Napoleon’s Sincere Regret--His
+ Interview with Hortense--The Final Fêtes--An Unfortunate
+ _Contretemps_ at Grosbois 285
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
+
+ 1809
+
+ THE DIVORCE
+
+ Eugène Reaches Paris--His Difficult Position--He Arranges
+ a Final Conference--Refuses the Crown of Italy--The
+ Family Council at the Tuileries--Address of the
+ Emperor--Joséphine’s Touching Reply--Eugene’s Address to
+ the Senate--Napoleon Leaves for the Trianon--Joséphine’s
+ Departure from the Tuileries--Annulment of the Religious
+ Marriage--The Legend of Joséphine 296
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
+
+ 1809–1810
+
+ JOSEPHINE AT MALMAISON
+
+ Dowry of the Empress--Napoleon’s Liberality--Her Debts
+ Paid--The First Days at Malmaison--Napoleon’s Visits
+ and Letters--Christmas Dinner at Trianon--Joséphine
+ Tires of the Country--Her Interest in the Austrian
+ Marriage--Napoleon Arranges for Her Return to Paris--Her
+ Arrival at the Élysée Palace 306
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY
+
+ 1810
+
+ THE CHATEAU OF NAVARRE
+
+ Napoleon’s Preference for a Russian Alliance--The Matter
+ Discussed in Conference--The Archduchess Marie-Louise
+ Favored--The Marriage Arranged--The New Empress Arrives
+ at Paris--Joséphine Goes to Malmaison--The Emperor Gives
+ Her Navarre--She Takes Possession of the Château--Its
+ Dilapidated Condition--Joséphine’s Letter to Hortense--The
+ Empress Worried Over the Paris Gossip--Her Letter to
+ Napoleon and His Reply--The Emperor Agrees to All Her
+ Plans--Joséphine Returns to Malmaison 319
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
+
+ 1810
+
+ AIX-LES-BAINS AND GENEVA
+
+ Joséphine’s Court at Malmaison--Her Anxiety About
+ Hortense--A Call from the Emperor--Joséphine Goes to
+ Aix-les-Bains--Her Life There--A Visit from Eugène--The
+ Emperor Announces the Abdication of Louis--Joséphine’s
+ Narrow Escape from Death--Arrival of Hortense--Joséphine’s
+ Tour of Switzerland--She Is Upset by the Reports Regarding
+ Marie-Louise--Advice of Madame de Rémusat--Joséphine’s
+ Return 331
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
+
+ 1811–1812
+
+ NAVARRE, MALMAISON AND MILAN
+
+ The Monotonous Life at Navarre--Joséphine’s Health
+ Improved--Visits from Hortense and Eugène--Joséphine’s
+ Fête-Day--News of the Birth of the King of Rome--Napoleon
+ Again Pays Her Debts--She Plans for a New Château at
+ Malmaison--Napoleon Exchanges Laeken for the Élysée--A
+ Winter at Malmaison--Visit to Milan--Sojourns at
+ Aix-les-Bains and Prégny 342
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
+
+ 1813–1814
+
+ THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE
+
+ The Malet Conspiracy--What It Revealed--Joséphine’s
+ Anxiety--Return of the Emperor--Joséphine and the King
+ of Rome--Eugène Commands the Grand Army--Napoleon’s
+ Errors in 1813--Hortense at Aix--Her Sons at
+ Malmaison--Recollections of Napoleon the Third--A Doting
+ Grandmother--Death of Mme. de Broc--Louis Returns to
+ France--Eugène’s Fidelity--Napoleon’s Suspicions--He Asks
+ Joséphine to Write Her Son--Her Despair--She Leaves for
+ Navarre 353
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
+
+ 1814
+
+ THE LAST DAYS AT MALMAISON
+
+ Joséphine at Navarre--Arrival of Hortense--The Emperor
+ at Fontainebleau--The Treaty of the 11 April--Provisions
+ for the Family--Joséphine Returns to Malmaison--Hortense
+ Arrives--The Czar Calls--Eugène Leaves Italy--He Is
+ Called to Paris--Hortense, Duchesse de Saint-Leu--Eugène
+ Received by the King--Joséphine’s Fears--Her Final Illness
+ and Death--How Napoleon Received the News--His Visit to
+ Malmaison 364
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
+
+ 1763–1814
+
+ JOSÉPHINE’S PERSONALITY
+
+ Her Connection with Martinique--Her Statue at
+ Fort-de-France--Her Legend--Her Claims to Beauty--Her
+ Intellect--Her Prodigality--Her Personal Magnetism--Her
+ Affections--Her Desire to Please--Her Falsehoods--Her Final
+ Deception--Her Succession--Fate of Her Homes--Napoleon’s
+ Last Visit to Malmaison--The _Souvenir de Malmaison_ 375
+
+ BIBLIOGRAPHY 385
+
+ INDEX 389
+
+
+
+
+ ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+ PAGE
+
+ Joséphine _Frontispiece_
+
+ General Bonaparte 58
+
+ Joséphine at Malmaison 78
+
+ Napoleon, First Consul 88
+
+ Château of Malmaison 94
+
+ Château of Saint-Cloud 114
+
+ Napoleon 154
+
+ Facsimile of Letter of Napoleon 186
+
+ Louis, King of Holland 198
+
+ Queen Hortense 226
+
+ Château of Fontainebleau 240
+
+ Fouché, Duc d’Otrante 252
+
+ Empress Joséphine 288
+
+ Facsimile of Letter of Joséphine 334
+
+ Eugène de Beauharnais 356
+
+
+
+
+ NAPOLEON AND JOSÉPHINE
+
+ THE RISE OF THE EMPIRE
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER ONE
+
+ 1763–1779
+
+ EARLY YEARS OF JOSÉPHINE
+
+ The Island of Martinique--The Tascher Family--François
+ de Beauharnais--Madame Renaudin--Birth of Alexandre de
+ Beauharnais--Birth of Joséphine--A Confusion of Dates--M.
+ Beauharnais in France--Death of His Wife--Misfortunes of the
+ Taschers--Childhood of Joséphine--Her Education--Her Appearance
+ and Character--Alexandre de Beauharnais--His Early Years--His
+ Education--Madame Renaudin’s Interest in Him
+
+
+On the outer rim of the Caribbean Sea, in the middle of the chain of
+the Lesser Antilles, between the British possessions of Dominica and
+St. Lucia, lies Martinique, the birthplace of Joséphine. The island
+is only forty miles long, by twenty wide, and its area of less than
+four hundred square miles makes it about a third the size of the
+smallest state in the Union. A cluster of volcanic mountains in the
+north, a similar group in the south, and a line of lower heights
+between them form the backbone of the island. The deep ravines and
+precipitous escarpments, culminating on the north in the _massif_
+of Mont-Pelé, are reduced in appearance to gentle undulations by the
+drapery of the forests. The few miles of country between the watershed
+and the sea are traversed by numerous streams, of which nearly
+fourscore are of considerable size, and in the rainy season become
+raging torrents.
+
+At the southerly end, a lateral range, branching from the backbone of
+the island, forms a blunt peninsula bounding on the south the beautiful
+low-shored bay of Fort-de-France, on which is located the city of the
+same name, formerly known as Fort-Royal, the capital of the island. On
+this peninsula, directly across the bay from the capital, is the little
+hamlet of Trois-Îlets, where Joséphine was born.
+
+By some authorities, Martinique is said to have been discovered by
+Columbus in 1493, the year of his second voyage, but it was not until
+1635 that possession was taken by the French _Compagnie des Îles
+d’Amérique_. During the next hundred years, Martinique had a full
+share of wars. It experienced several revolutions of different kinds,
+and was attacked on numerous occasions by the British and the Dutch,
+but always without success. It was finally captured, however, by Rodney
+in 1762, and was only returned to France, by the Treaty of Paris, in
+the following year, a few days before the birth of Joséphine. Like
+Napoleon, therefore, she had a narrow escape from not being born under
+the French flag.
+
+In 1726, there landed in Martinique a noble of Blois, named
+Gaspard-Joseph Tascher de la Pagerie, who, like many others, came
+to seek his fortune. He belonged to an old family which could trace
+its origin back at least to the middle of the fifteenth century. His
+great-grandfather had established himself in Blois in 1650, after
+having sold his _seigneurie_ of la Pagerie, of which, however,
+his descendants continued to use the name. His grandfather, retired
+with the grade of captain of cavalry, exhausted his last resources,
+in 1674, in recruiting a squadron of the noblesse of Blois. He left
+only one son, Gaspard, who, in spite of his good marriages, did not
+succeed in restoring the family fortunes. Gaspard left two sons, of
+whom the younger rose to considerable prominence in the Church. The
+elder, named Gaspard-Joseph, after his grandfather, was a _mauvais
+sujet_. To escape a life of genteel poverty at home, he decided
+to try his fortunes in the New World. Little is known of the early
+years of his life in Martinique, but four years after his arrival,
+he presented to the Council a request to have his titles registered,
+in order to preserve his rights and privileges as a member of the
+noblesse. On account of the many formalities, and the delays in hearing
+from France, this matter dragged along over a period of fifteen years.
+In the meantime, in 1734, he married a young woman of good, if not
+noble, family, who brought him a considerable dot. He was not at all
+successful in his business ventures, however, and was finally obliged
+to take a clerical position. By his marriage, he had five children, two
+sons and three daughters; but we are only interested in the elder son,
+Joseph-Gaspard, and the eldest daughter, Désirée.
+
+In 1752, Joseph-Gaspard, who was then seventeen years of age, left
+Martinique to take a position as page in the household of the Dauphine,
+Marie-Josèphe of Saxony, the mother of the future King Louis the
+Sixteenth. This place had been secured for him by the Abbé de Tascher.
+After passing three years in France, he returned to Martinique with a
+brevet commission as sous-lieutenant in the Navy.
+
+At this time, thirty years after the arrival of Gaspard-Joseph on the
+island, the family was living in a state of abject misery, without
+money or social position.
+
+In April 1755, in a period of entire peace between the two nations, an
+English fleet of ten vessels, under the command of Admiral Boscawen,
+captured two French battle-ships near the south coast of Newfoundland.
+It soon became evident that plans had been laid by the British
+Government to attack all the French colonies. In this emergency the
+King, Louis the Fifteenth, had need in the Islands of an officer of
+force and intelligence, and on the first of November 1756 he appointed
+François de Beauharnais as governor and lieutenant-general of all the
+French possessions in the West Indies.
+
+The new governor, although only forty-two years of age, had a
+record of twenty-seven years of distinguished service in the Navy.
+Notwithstanding the fact that most of this period was passed at
+Rochefort, his native place, and that he had seen no active service, he
+was very highly esteemed for the efficiency with which he had always
+discharged the duties of his various positions.
+
+Monsieur de Beauharnais, (who was not made a marquis until eight years
+later), belonged to a family of the _noblesse de la robe_, rather than
+of the sword. He was the eldest son of a naval captain, Claude, and of
+a Mlle. Hardouineau, whose mother had married for her second husband
+the then Marquis de Beauharnais. As nephew of one and grandson of the
+other he was later to bear the title and to succeed to the hôtel in the
+Rue Thévenot, in Paris, where the marquis died in 1749.
+
+When François de Beauharnais landed in Martinique, as governor, in May
+1757, he was accompanied by his young wife, whom he had married six
+years before. She was his cousin, and had brought him a large dot.
+He also had a small income of his own which he had inherited from
+a bachelor uncle. They had had two sons, of whom only one was then
+living--François, born the previous year.
+
+What possible point of contact could there be between this _grand
+seigneur_, arriving as master in Martinique, rich with his income of
+100,000 and his salary of 150,000 livres, and these Taschers living in
+misery in a corner of the island?
+
+As above stated, Gaspard-Joseph had three daughters, and in some
+unknown way he was successful in obtaining for the eldest, Désirée,
+a position in the household of the governor, as an upper servant or
+_demoiselle de compagnie_. Once installed in the mansion it did
+not take her long to secure a dominating influence over the governor
+and his wife, and her favor was in no way diminished by her marriage
+to an ordonnance officer of M. de Beauharnais, Alexis Renaudin, a
+young man of good family and connections. But it required all of the
+authority of the governor to arrange the matter, as the Renaudins
+objected strongly to the match--not so much on account of the lack of
+dot, as because of the general discredit of the Taschers. Finally, M.
+Renaudin _père_ died, and the mother gave a reluctant consent.
+
+After her marriage the power of the young Madame Renaudin seemed to
+increase from day to day. A good husband was found for one of her
+younger sisters, a command in the militia for her father, and a place
+on the governor’s staff for her brother.
+
+The administration of M. de Beauharnais proved a failure. Charges of
+such gravity were made against him in France that he was recalled
+from his government, and only saved from disgrace by the influence
+of powerful friends at home. By this time his infatuation for Madame
+Renaudin was so great that he was reluctant to leave Martinique, and
+the interesting condition of his wife served as an excuse. On the 28
+May 1760, another son was born, who received the name of Alexandre.
+Still M. de Beauharnais lingered on the island, and it was not until
+the month of April in the following year that he and his wife finally
+sailed for France, with the inseparable Madame Renaudin in their suite.
+In order not to expose the young Alexandre to the hazards of the
+voyage, he was left behind, in charge of Madame Tascher _mère_.
+
+Before the departure of M. de Beauharnais, he arranged yet another
+marriage for the Tascher family, and on the 9 November 1761,
+Joseph-Gaspard, the former page of the Dauphine, led to the altar Mlle.
+Rose-Claire des Vergers de Sannois. She was descended from the old
+noblesse of Brie, and belonged to one of the most highly considered
+families in the colony. Rose-Claire, who was born in August 1736,
+had already passed her twenty-fifth birthday, and was very glad to
+find a husband. The marriage, which was celebrated before the curé of
+Trois-Îlets, was not honored by the presence of any of the dignitaries
+of the colony. Even the father of the groom was not present, for some
+unknown reason.
+
+From this marriage there was born on the 23 June 1763, a daughter, who
+five weeks later received in baptism the names of Marie-Joseph-Rose:
+this was Joséphine.
+
+During the three following years, Mme. de la Pagerie had two more
+daughters: Désirée, born the 11 December 1764, who died at the age of
+thirteen; and Françoise, born the 3 September 1766, who died at the age
+of twenty-five.
+
+At this point we find a confusion in the records which it is not easy
+to explain. Under date of the 5 September 1791, there is an entry
+of the burial of Marie-Joseph-Rose. There is also in existence a
+document of questionable authenticity from which it would appear that
+a demoiselle Tascher gave birth the 17 March 1786, to a daughter who
+was adopted by Mme. de la Pagerie, and was given a dot of 60,000 francs
+by the Emperor Napoleon twenty-two years later, on the occasion of her
+marriage. In the certificate of baptism of this child, the mother may
+have borrowed the name of her sister Joséphine, who was certainly in
+France at that date, and the same name quite naturally might be used in
+her burial certificate. In any case, there is no possible doubt as to
+the personality of Marie-Joseph-Rose, nor as to the date of her birth.
+But this confusion of names and dates enabled Joséphine, when she
+wished to appear younger at the time of her second marriage, to claim
+that she was born in 1766.
+
+The Treaty of Paris, which ended the struggle between England and
+France, was signed on the 10 February 1763, but the news did not reach
+Martinique until the end of the following month. The French fleet,
+charged with taking possession of the island, arrived the middle of
+June, and the white banner of the Bourbons was hoisted once more, just
+a week before the birth of Joséphine.
+
+In the meantime, in France, M. de Beauharnais, through the support of
+powerful friends at Court, had succeeded not only in having suppressed
+the record of his unsuccessful administration, but in securing a
+pension of 12,000 livres, the rank of chef d’escadre, and the title of
+marquis. At the same time he also obtained a small pension for M. de la
+Pagerie.
+
+Madame Renaudin, after passing a short time in a convent, openly took
+up her residence with the marquis, both in the city and the country,
+and his wife, who seems for a long time to have been blind to their
+relations, left Paris to live near her mother at Blois. From time to
+time, she made short visits to the city, and it was on one of these
+occasions that she died, in October 1767.
+
+Madame Renaudin was now in full control of the situation, and to
+consolidate her power she began to lay plans for the future.
+
+The pension of 450 livres which M. de la Pagerie had obtained from the
+Court proved very useful when he was practically ruined by the great
+storm of August 1766, which, combined with an earthquake, devastated
+Martinique, throwing down houses and destroying plantations. On the
+Tascher estate nothing was left standing except the sugar refinery,
+to which the family fled for shelter. In this building, altered so
+as to make it habitable, the family continued to live for the next
+twenty-five years. Aubenas visited the place in the middle of the last
+century, when it was not much changed since the days of Joséphine’s
+childhood. The village Trois-Îlets then contained about fifty frame
+houses, and a small church, in which was the family vault of the
+Taschers. The plantation was located about a mile beyond the town, and
+the description of Aubenas is interesting:
+
+The homestead is situated on a slight eminence, surrounded by larger
+hills, only a few steps from the sea, although it is out of sight, and
+even out of hearing. From the extent of the buildings still standing,
+and the ruins which the eye can make out, it is possible to judge
+the former importance of the estate, one of the largest in this once
+flourishing quarter of the island. The dwelling-house, originally
+constructed on a large scale, has become since the storm of 1766 a
+simple wooden structure. Next comes the sugar-mill with its circle of
+heavy pillars and its huge roof of red tiles of native manufacture.
+A few paces from the mill is the refinery, a large building, over
+forty yards long by twenty wide. On looking at the monumental solidity
+of this structure it is possible to understand how it withstood the
+terrible storm. During the years which followed, the building was
+adapted to shelter the Tascher family. A low gallery was added on the
+southern side, and rooms were fitted up in the upper part until a new
+dwelling-house could be erected. Built on the slope of the hill were
+the huts of the negroes, and round about were the sheds and other
+buildings used in the manufacture of the sugar.
+
+Amid such surroundings the future empress and queen passed the years
+of her childhood, with no society except that of the slaves, and no
+culture intellectual or moral. When she was ten years of age she was
+sent to the school of the Dames de la Providence at Fort-Royal, where
+she remained four years. Her education was then thought to be complete,
+and she returned to Trois-Îlets. In fact she had received little more
+than a primary-school training, with a few lessons in music and dancing.
+
+At this time Joséphine was far from being the finished coquette that
+she became later on. She had a good complexion, fine eyes, pretty
+hands and feet; but her face was full, without marked traits, her nose
+_relevé_ and ordinary, her figure heavy and ungraceful. Her mind
+was hardly cultivated, but to the convent she owed at least quite an
+elegant penmanship, with an orthography not much worse than that of
+most of her contemporaries. She had a slender voice, and sang to the
+accompaniment of a guitar. In character, she was very sweet, submissive
+to authority, very amiable, always ready to do any one a favor; and
+such she remained all her life.
+
+While Joséphine was passing her childhood at Trois-Îlets, the boy
+Alexandre de Beauharnais was living at Fort-Royal with the elder Madame
+Tascher. It was not until two years after the death of his mother,
+towards the end of the year 1769, that his father arranged to have
+him brought back to France. At that time he was over nine years of
+age. There is a record of his baptism, under date of 15 January 1770,
+on the parish registers of the church of Saint-Sulpice at Paris. His
+godmother was the “_haute et puissante dame Marie-Euphémie-Désirée
+Tascher de la Pagerie, épouse de M. Renaudin, écuyer, ancien major de
+l’île de Sainte-Lucie_.”
+
+In order to complete his education, which had been much neglected,
+Alexandre was placed with his brother in the Collège du Plessis,
+founded by the great Cardinal Richelieu, which at that time was the
+rival of Louis-le-Grand at Paris. Later the boys were sent for two
+years, with their tutor Patricol, to the University of Heidelberg to
+learn the German language.
+
+In 1774, François entered the army, and Patricol was engaged by the
+Duc de La Rochefoucauld as preceptor for the two sons of his sister,
+Rohan-Chabot, and he took Alexandre with him. It thus happened that the
+most impressionable years of the boy’s life were passed in the ducal
+château of Roche-Guyon.
+
+During all these years Madame Renaudin never lost sight of him. She
+made every effort to secure over the son the same influence which she
+exercised over the father. In the plans which she had formed for the
+future, Alexandre held the principal rôle. The resources of the marquis
+were very limited, and the expenses of the household were paid largely
+from the income of the fortune which the boy had inherited from his
+mother. This money Madame Renaudin intended if possible to keep in the
+family.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWO
+
+ 1779–1790
+
+ MARRIAGE AND SEPARATION
+
+ Alexandre de Beauharnais Enters the Army--Madame Renaudin Plans
+ for His Marriage--The Marquis Writes M. de la Pagerie--Joséphine
+ Takes Her Sister’s Place--She Arrives in France--The Contract
+ Signed--The Marriage--Life in Paris--Birth of Eugène--Alexandre
+ Sails for Martinique--Birth of Hortense--Alexandre Repudiates
+ Joséphine--He Returns to France--Refuses a Reconciliation--A
+ Separation Arranged--Joséphine’s Sojourn at the
+ Panthémont--Residence at Fontainebleau--Voyage to Martinique
+
+
+When Alexandre de Beauharnais was sixteen years of age, in December
+1776, he received through the favor of the Duc de La Rochefoucauld a
+commission as sous-lieutenant in his regiment of the Sarre-infanterie.
+At this time he abandoned the courtesy title of chevalier, then given
+to the younger sons of noble families, and assumed that of vicomte, to
+which he had no valid claim. Dressed in his handsome new uniform of
+white cloth, with facings of silver-gray, the young vicomte proceeded
+to Rouen, where his regiment had just arrived in garrison. Here he went
+through his military exercises, and perfected himself in mathematics
+and horsemanship. At this time he was far from thinking of marriage,
+but he did not know the plans of that “high and mighty dame,” his
+godmother.
+
+When he returned home to pass a six months’ leave of absence, Madame
+Renaudin played her cards so well that Alexandre readily assented
+to her ideas, in order more quickly to enjoy his fortune. On the 23
+October 1777, the marquis wrote the following letter to M. de la
+Pagerie:
+
+“Each of my children has at present an income of forty thousand livres.
+It is in your power to give me one of your daughters to share the
+fortune of my chevalier. The respect and attachment which he has for
+Madame de Renaudin make him ardently desire to be united to one of her
+nieces. I assure you that I only acquiesce in his wishes in asking you
+for the second, whose age is the most suitable for him.
+
+“I deeply regret that your eldest daughter is not a few years younger:
+she certainly would have had the preference, for I have formed an
+equally favorable opinion of her; but I must admit that my son, who
+is only seventeen and a half years old, thinks that a young lady of
+fifteen is too nearly of his own age. There are occasions when sensible
+parents are forced to yield to circumstances.”
+
+As Alexandre, besides the income of 40,000 livres from the estate
+of his mother, had expectations of 25,000 more, the marquis did not
+request M. de la Pagerie to furnish any dot. He only asked that the
+father make haste to bring his daughter to France; or, if he could not
+come himself, to send her with a trustworthy companion, by a commercial
+vessel, as “she would have a more comfortable and agreeable voyage.”
+
+When this letter of the marquis reached Martinique, the second daughter
+of M. de la Pagerie, Désirée, was dead, of a malignant fever, at the
+age of thirteen; and the youngest daughter, Françoise, was not yet
+twelve years old. In January, the father writes that, in default of the
+second daughter, he is willing to offer the third, but that it would
+be better to accept the first. He says that she (Joséphine) has a very
+fine complexion, and very beautiful arms, and that she is very anxious
+to go to Paris.
+
+Madame Renaudin’s plan was that Alexandre should marry _one_ of
+her nieces: she did not care whether it was the youngest or the oldest.
+Therefore, without wasting time in vain regrets over the death of
+Désirée, she wrote her brother, in March 1778, “Come with one of your
+girls, or two; whatever you do will be agreeable to us. _We must have
+one of your children._”
+
+In reply to this letter, M. de la Pagerie wrote, the last of June, that
+his youngest daughter had been ill for three months, and was in no
+condition to travel, and that he would bring Joséphine. When received,
+in September, this information was communicated to Alexandre, who
+was then stationed with his regiment near Brest, and he accepted the
+substitution with good grace, though with little enthusiasm.
+
+Before M. de la Pagerie could sail, however, France and England were
+again at war, and his departure was delayed for more than a year.
+Finally, in October 1779, Madame Renaudin received a letter from her
+brother, announcing that he and his daughter had arrived at Brest,
+after a terrible voyage, and that he was detained there by illness. She
+at once set out with Alexandre to join them.
+
+This was the first encounter between Alexandre and Joséphine since
+their childhood days, as she was only six years old when he left
+Martinique. To judge by his letters to his father at this time, he was
+far from enthusiastic over his Creole fiancée. He said that she was not
+as pretty as his father might expect, but that the sweetness of her
+character surpassed anything that had been said of her.
+
+The party of four travelled slowly to Paris, where they arrived the
+middle of November, and joined the marquis in his hôtel, Rue Thévenot,
+where he was just installed. The banns had already been published
+three times in Martinique in April, and they were now published again
+in Paris. Madame Renaudin at once occupied herself with ordering the
+trousseau, for which she expended the large sum of twenty thousand
+livres.
+
+On the 10 December the contract was signed at the hôtel of the marquis
+in the presence of all the male members of the family, no ladies being
+present! Of the family of the bride, there was present, aside from M.
+de la Pagerie and his sister, only a very distant cousin.
+
+As Alexandre had so large an income, the marquis did not make any
+settlement on him at the time of the marriage. The dot of the bride was
+furnished by her aunt. Besides the trousseau, already mentioned, Madame
+Renaudin gave her a house at Noisy-le-Grand, in the vicinity of Paris,
+which she had purchased in October 1776, for the sum of 33,000 livres,
+and had furnished at a further cost of about 30,000 livres. To use
+the expression commonly employed by ladies in those days (and perhaps
+since), when they did not care to state from what source their money
+was derived, these funds were doubtless the “proceeds of her diamonds.”
+
+Three days after the signing of the contract, on the 13 December 1779,
+the marriage was celebrated in the church at Noisy, in the presence of
+nearly the same persons who witnessed the signing of the contract. No
+woman signed the register!
+
+Immediately after the marriage, the young couple took up their
+residence in the sombre hôtel of the marquis in Paris. For the
+young Creole it was a sad change from the brilliant sunshine, the
+entire liberty, and the _dolce far niente_ of the Antilles. The
+Beauharnais had few friends in Paris, and Joséphine had not even an
+acquaintance. In the spring, Alexandre returned to his regiment at
+Brest, and Joséphine remained in Paris with her father-in-law, her
+aunt, and her father, who was still ill.
+
+Returning to Paris, when his regiment was ordered to Verdun, Alexandre
+made no effort to introduce his wife in society. He thought her awkward
+and ignorant: even worse, she seemed to him plain, devoid of grace and
+_tournure_, with ridiculous ideas of conjugal love, tenderness and
+jealousy. He had married to be free to enjoy his fortune, and he had no
+intention of being tied down to his wife. It was difficult enough to
+secure entry to the Court for himself alone, and he owed his position
+there mainly to the fact that he was a fine dancer. He could never hope
+to introduce a wife who had neither money, nor friends, nor social
+position. In fact, despite the legends to the contrary, Joséphine was
+never presented at the Court of Marie-Antoinette.
+
+While Alexandre visited from château to château, his wife continued
+to lead the same quiet, uneventful life at Noisy or at Paris. On the 3
+September 1781, she gave birth in the hôtel, Rue Thévenot, to a son,
+who the following day was baptized in the church of Saint-Sauveur, and
+received the name of Eugène.
+
+The first of November, Alexandre left Paris for a trip to Italy, from
+which he did not return until the end of July. For a short time after
+his return, he was more attentive to his wife, but the improvement in
+their relations did not last long. One who knew him well has said that
+he was “d’une grande coquetterie avec les femmes,” and such he remained
+until the end of his life. Joséphine was naturally of a jealous
+temperament, and she certainly had reason enough to “faire des scènes.”
+
+Alexandre was hardly back a month in Paris before he was thinking of
+leaving again. At that time M. de Bouillé, the governor of the Windward
+Islands, was in France with the object of persuading the Government to
+authorize an expedition against the English. Warmly supported by his
+old patron, M. de La Rochefoucauld, Alexandre tried, but in vain, to
+secure the position of aide de camp to Bouillé. He was so determined to
+leave, however, that on the 26 September 1782 he sailed for Martinique
+as a simple volunteer, having obtained an indefinite leave of absence
+from the Minister of War. He arrived at the island in the month of
+November, but found no chance to distinguish himself, as the war was
+drawing to a close. The preliminaries of peace were signed the 20
+January 1783, and all hostilities ceased in the Antilles as soon as the
+news was received.
+
+On the 10 April 1783 a daughter was born to Joséphine in the new hôtel
+of the marquis, Rue Saint-Charles, and was baptized the following day
+as Hortense-Eugénie. In the certificate the father is described as
+“Vicomte de Beauharnais, Baron de Beauville, capitaine au régiment de
+la Sarre, actuellement en Amérique pour le service du Roi.”
+
+At that time it took at least two months for a letter to go from Paris
+to Martinique, and Alexandre did not receive the news before the middle
+of June. After waiting three weeks, he wrote Joséphine as follows:
+
+“If I had written you in the first moment of my anger, my pen would
+have burnt the paper ...; but for more than three weeks I know, at
+least in part, what I wish you to understand. In spite then of the
+despair of my soul, the rage which suffocates me, I shall know how to
+restrain myself; I shall know how to tell you coldly that you are in my
+eyes the vilest of human beings; that my stay here has enabled me to
+learn of the abominable life you led here; that I know, in the fullest
+particulars, your intrigue with M. de B., officer of the Régiment de la
+Martinique, also that with M. d’H....; I know finally the contents of
+your letters and I will bring with me one of the presents you made....
+I do not ask you for repentance: you are incapable of it; a person
+who, while making her preparations to depart, could receive her lover
+in her arms, when she knows that she is destined for another, has no
+soul; she is lower than all the _coquines_ on earth.... What
+can I think of this last child, born more than eight months after my
+return from Italy? I am forced to accept it, but I swear by the Heaven
+which enlightens me that it belongs to another, that it is the blood
+of a stranger which flows in its veins.... Make your own arrangements
+accordingly; never, never, will I put myself in a position to be abused
+again, and as you are a woman to impose on the public if we live under
+the same roof, have the goodness to retire to a convent, as soon as you
+receive my letter; it is my last word, and nothing on earth can make me
+change it. I will go to see you on my arrival in Paris, once only: I
+wish to have a talk with you and to give you something.”
+
+It is impossible to read this letter without feeling that Alexandre at
+the time sincerely believed that he had been wronged by Joséphine both
+before and after their union. During his stay in Martinique, he had
+begun, as usual, to “courir les femmes,” and had formed a liaison with
+a young woman who was an enemy of the Taschers, jealous of the fine
+marriage which Madame Renaudin had arranged for her niece, and ready to
+employ all means to disturb the peace of the family. It was from her
+that Alexandre obtained the information as to Joséphine’s early love
+affairs.
+
+After arranging to meet his mistress in Paris, Alexandre sailed the
+middle of August, and arrived in France six weeks later. He found
+awaiting him at the port letters from his father and Madame Renaudin,
+attempting to bring about a reconciliation. En route for Paris he
+wrote Joséphine that he was surprised to learn that she was not yet in
+a convent, and that his decision was unalterable. On receiving this
+letter at Noisy, Joséphine rushed to Paris, to meet her husband on his
+arrival, but Alexandre did not go to his father’s house.
+
+Every possible effort was made by the marquis and Madame Renaudin to
+effect a reconciliation, but the vicomte remained inflexible. After a
+month of fruitless attempts, Joséphine retired, with her aunt, to the
+Abbaye de Panthémont, Rue de Grenelle, and early in December began a
+formal action for separation. In her complaint she sets forth in the
+greatest detail the existence which she has led; the indifference of
+her husband, who in nearly three years of married life has passed less
+than ten months with her. In conclusion she states the formal refusal
+of her husband to resume their life in common, and files a copy of the
+letter quoted above, which constitutes her principal grievance against
+him.
+
+It is certain that if Alexandre had any proofs of the misconduct of
+Joséphine subsequent to their marriage, he would not have hesitated
+at this time to bring them forward. The allegation regarding Hortense
+is disproved by a simple examination of the dates. As for the other
+charges, fifteen months later he voluntarily and explicitly withdrew
+them. In March 1785, he met Joséphine in the office of his notary and
+consented formally to a separation. All the provisions of this act are
+greatly to the honor of Joséphine, and prove conclusively that there
+was no basis for the grave charges Alexandre had made when under the
+spell of an ignoble woman.
+
+Joséphine was to live where she pleased; to receive from her husband an
+allowance of 5000 livres a year; to have the custody of Eugène until
+he was five years old; to keep Hortense, for whose maintenance her
+_father_ was to pay 1000 livres quarterly in advance until she was
+seven years old, and 1500 livres after that age. Alexandre further
+agreed to pay all the legal expenses of the suit. Such was the end of
+this famous action, from which Joséphine carried off all the honors of
+war.
+
+The sojourn of Joséphine at Panthémont was of great advantage to
+her in every way. The Abbaye was like an immense furnished hôtel,
+of the highest respectability, open only to women of “la première
+distinction,” and there Joséphine for the first time had an opportunity
+of meeting women of her own social rank. She was received as the
+Vicomtesse de Beauharnais, an unfortunate, irreproachable young woman,
+the victim of a cruel husband.
+
+For a woman of the world, Joséphine already possessed two of the
+essential requisites: she was a coquette and she knew how to lie. In
+these two respects, her husband undoubtedly had a grievance against
+her. And to these two qualities, Joséphine adds, by the faculty of
+assimilation which is one of her strongest traits, that physical
+education which in a new society is to place her in a class by herself.
+Little by little a transformation is effected in her personality,
+which changes the heavy and awkward Creole into a being delicate and
+_souple_, a being desirable above all, who knows how to attract
+and to hold. From every point of view this retreat of fifteen months
+was profitable to her.
+
+On leaving the Panthémont early in 1786 Joséphine, at twenty-three
+years of age, found herself free, with an income of 9000 livres for
+the support of Hortense and herself. At this time she sold the estate
+at Noisy, and with the proceeds she bought at Fontainebleau a little
+house, where she went to live with her aunt and the marquis. They
+had a few friends in that locality, and in their society the days
+passed pleasantly. At that time the Court was obliged to practice the
+strictest economy, and for two years the royal hunt was abandoned.
+
+In September 1786, under the terms of the act of separation, Eugène was
+sent to his father, who placed him at school. Hortense was brought home
+from Chelles, where she had been for two years with a nurse, and was at
+once inoculated, by orders of the marquis, who was a great believer in
+all innovations.
+
+Abandoned at twenty-three years by her husband, whose liaisons with
+other women were open and notorious; attractive, passionate, extremely
+coquette, is it probable that Joséphine did not have a lover? Several
+names have been mentioned in this connection, but we have no proofs.
+All we know is that in June 1788 Joséphine suddenly sailed for
+Martinique, taking Hortense with her. None of her biographers has
+ever been able to find a satisfactory explanation of this voyage. It
+has been surmised that it was either for the purpose of concealing
+the results of her imprudence, or else was on account of the pressing
+need of money. But, if the latter, was it not easier to await at
+Fontainebleau the remittances from her father, who acted as agent of
+the marquis, than to go three thousand miles in search of them? In
+default of any documents we are reduced to conjectures, and with our
+knowledge of Joséphine can only imagine one of two reasons: debts or
+love. The biographers friendly to Joséphine attribute her journey
+to the former cause; but it is rather strange that her enemies have
+not seized on the fact that Decrès, writing by Napoleon’s orders in
+1807, spoke of “the demoiselle of _eighteen_ years, whom Madame
+de la Pagerie has adopted.” Had this girl, known as Marie-Bénaquette
+Tascher de la Pagerie, been really only eighteen years of age at that
+time, she must have been born early in 1789, that is to say during
+this visit of Joséphine, and not in March 1786, as stated in the
+document of doubtful authenticity already mentioned. Therefore, on the
+ground of date alone, there was no reason why “Marie-Joseph-Rose,” as
+stated in the certificate, could not have been the mother, instead
+of Marie-Françoise. Turquan, who is always unfriendly to Joséphine,
+does not hesitate to insinuate that Joséphine had a daughter during
+this visit to Martinique in 1789, six years after her separation from
+her husband, and gives as his authority a study of M. Frédéric Masson
+upon _Joséphine avant Bonaparte_, published in the _Revue de
+Paris_. This girl, Marie-Bénaquette, was married in March 1808 to
+the private secretary of the captain-general of Martinique, a Monsieur
+Blanchet, and her dot of sixty thousand francs was provided by the
+Emperor, doubtless at the request of Joséphine. The whole episode is a
+curious one, to say the least.
+
+Whatever her motive may have been, Joséphine was in great haste to
+leave France at the earliest possible moment. Finding on her arrival at
+Havre that the government vessel which she had expected to take could
+not sail for two weeks, she engaged passage for Hortense and herself on
+a private ship, and sailed at once.
+
+The voyage was pleasant and rapid. Arrived at Martinique Joséphine went
+directly to Trois-Îlets, where she remained nearly two years. We have
+no record of this visit, but her life must have been very dull. The
+family was very poor, and both her father and her sister Françoise were
+ill.
+
+Her father died in November 1790, two months after Joséphine’s
+departure, and her sister a year later.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THREE
+
+ 1789–1794
+
+ THE REVOLUTION
+
+ Beauharnais Elected to the States-General--Joséphine Returns
+ from Martinique--Alexandre, President of the Assembly--Flight
+ of the Royal Family--End of the Constituent Assembly--Alexandre
+ Rejoins the Army--Promoted and Made Commander of the Army
+ of the Rhine--His Disgraceful Failure--His Resignation
+ Accepted--Joséphine at Paris and Croissy--Alexandre at
+ Blois--Both Arrested and Confined in the Carmes--Execution of
+ Alexandre
+
+
+On the 5 May 1789, the States-General assembled at Versailles, and
+Alexandre de Beauharnais was one of the members. He had presented
+himself to the noblesse of Blois as a candidate for the place of one
+of the two deputies to be elected by that bailiwick, and was chosen
+almost unanimously through the influence of Lavoisier. This was
+the fermier-général Lavoisier, member of the Academy of Sciences.
+Established only twenty years at Blois, he had acquired by his
+liberality a great popularity. He was the real head of the electoral
+assembly, of which he was chosen secretary, and it was he who drafted
+the _cahier des doléances_.
+
+This memorandum of grievances, which Alexandre was charged to support,
+was wholly inspired by the doctrines of Rousseau, and was the most
+revolutionary of any presented to the King.
+
+Beauharnais was faithful to his mandate, and on his arrival at
+Versailles he ranged himself with the minority of the Noblesse--the
+_Forty-seven_--beside Aiguillon, La Fayette, Lally-Tollendal, La
+Rochefoucauld and the Duc d’Orléans.
+
+On the night of the 4 August, when feudal rights were abolished, and
+“every man generously gave away what he did not own,” Alexandre took a
+leading part. In recognition of his attitude on this occasion, on the
+23 November, after the Assembly had moved to Paris, Beauharnais was
+chosen one of the three secretaries, with Aiguillon as president.
+
+While Alexandre was thus playing one of the principal rôles in the
+Constituent Assembly, the island of Martinique was in a state of
+turmoil. There was open war between the whites and the blacks. Tascher,
+the uncle of Joséphine, who was commandant of the port at Fort-Royal,
+was elected mayor; there was a collision at Saint-Pierre between the
+two parties, and fifteen blacks were killed. The garrison of Fort
+Bourbon revolted, and Tascher was made a prisoner by the rebels. The
+governor was compelled to evacuate, not only the capital, but also the
+forts which defended it. Complete anarchy reigned on the island.
+
+Joséphine was advised by her friends to leave, and she sailed for
+France on the 4 September 1790 on the frigate _Sensible_. Her
+departure was so hasty that she sailed almost without any changes of
+clothing, and during the voyage was thrown upon the charity of the
+officers of the ship for toilet necessities for herself and Hortense.
+She landed in France early in November, and went directly to Paris,
+where she lodged at the Hôtel des Asturies, Rue d’Anjou.
+
+At this time Joséphine seems to have made another effort to bring
+about a reconciliation with her husband, but without success. Alexandre
+continued to live at the hôtel of the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, and
+Joséphine took an apartment in the Rue Saint-Dominique.
+
+The summer of 1791, Joséphine and her children were with the marquis
+and Madame Renaudin at Fontainebleau. Here she learned of the election
+of her husband as president of the Assembly, on the 18 June. Two
+days later occurred the flight of the royal family to Varennes. The
+announcement was made by Beauharnais, in opening the session of Tuesday
+the 21 June, and the Assembly remained in permanent session until the
+afternoon of the following Sunday. During this period Alexandre, by
+force of circumstances, was the personage the most _en vue_ in
+France, the head of all authority. The King was suspended, and the
+President of the National Assembly, for the moment, was sovereign. When
+his son Eugène was seen in the streets of Fontainebleau, the people
+cried: “Voilà le Dauphin!”
+
+It was a strange turn of the wheel of fortune which thus brought face
+to face the Marquis de Bouillé, the distinguished soldier of the
+Antilles, the last royal governor, who arranged the flight to Varennes,
+and this Beauharnais, who a few years before had vainly solicited the
+favor of being his aide de camp. One had been a valiant soldier, whose
+life had been devoted to his king and country: the other had never seen
+any active service, and his brief existence, up to the present time,
+had been a mixture of scandal and futility. In this encounter, by the
+irony of fate, it was the veteran who lost, and the carpet-knight who
+won.
+
+The last of September the Constituent Assembly came to an end. As the
+retiring deputies, by an act of rare and imbecile disinterestedness,
+had declared themselves ineligible for election to the new Legislative
+Assembly, they were all forced to retire to private life. Alexandre
+set out at once for Loir-et-Cher, where he was named member of the
+administration of the department. At this time he bought some national
+property in the vicinity of Ferté-Beauharnais, of which he seemed to
+consider himself the sole owner since the emigration of his brother.
+But the exercise of his new civil duties was brief. Since the 25
+August he had been on the rolls of the general staff, with the rank of
+lieutenant-colonel, and early in December he received an order to join
+the 21st division to which he was attached.
+
+The former president of the Assembly certainly took his time about
+entering upon his military duties, for he remained in the country until
+the last of January, and then came to Paris, where he devoted another
+month to arranging his affairs. At this time he was successful in
+securing a pension of 10,000 livres for his aged father. Finally he set
+out for the headquarters at Valenciennes.
+
+When hostilities began in April he was attached to the Third Corps,
+commanded by Maréchal de Rochambeau in person. He took part in the
+first operations, and personally sent to the Military Committee of the
+Assembly an account of the rout at Mons.
+
+For such distinguished services, Alexandre was promoted the last of
+May and assigned to the Army of the North under Maréchal Lückner. He
+continued to correspond with the Assembly, to describe the smallest
+skirmishes, and to give his impressions of events. He was one of the
+first to accept the revolution of the 10 August, and was rewarded on
+the 7 September by being promoted to major-general and named chief of
+staff of the new army in course of formation at Strasbourg.
+
+The year 1792 came to an end without the Army of the Rhine making
+any forward movement. During the first months of the following year,
+Beauharnais was still in Strasbourg, or that vicinity: his name occurs
+in no reports. The 8 March he was promoted to be lieutenant-general;
+and on the 13 May, when Custine was made commander of the Army of the
+North, Beauharnais succeeded him as general-in-chief of the Army of the
+Rhine.
+
+In June, after the fall of the Girondins, Alexandre was summoned
+to Paris, to succeed Bouchotte as Minister of War. This nomination
+displeased the all-powerful Commune of Paris, which denounced
+Beauharnais as an aristocrat, and he wisely declined the appointment.
+
+By this time the public was beginning to realize that General
+Beauharnais was more fond of writing than of acting. Mayence was
+besieged, and the commander of the Army of the Rhine had something
+more important to do than to compose addresses. The last of June he
+finally set his 60,000 men in motion, and advanced on the enemy. As
+usual, he reported in the greatest detail the slightest skirmishes,
+but did nothing to effect the relief of Mayence, which after a brave
+defence was forced to capitulate on the 23 July. He then insulted the
+heroic defenders of the city by a proclamation to his army, in which he
+said: “No one could expect a surrender so long as the Republicans had
+any ammunition or bread.” At the same time he wrote the Jacobins of
+Strasbourg that the club ought to demand of the Convention the heads of
+the traitors of Mayence and send them to the King of Prussia!
+
+He then ordered his army to retreat to the lines of Wissembourg,
+and sent in his resignation, on the ground that, as a member of a
+proscribed caste, it was his duty to remove any subject of disquietude
+from the minds of his fellow-citizens. Without any authorization, he
+left his army and went to Strasbourg. It was a grave error thus to
+abandon his post in the face of the enemy, at a moment when Custine
+was on trial, Dillon under arrest, and all the generals of noble birth
+subject to suspicion.
+
+On the 21 August, his resignation was accepted, in terms which for all
+time must cover his name with opprobrium. He was ordered to retire
+at once to a distance of fifty miles from the frontier, to a place
+of residence of which he would inform the Convention. So ended the
+inglorious military career of Alexandre de Beauharnais.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+From October 1791 to September 1793, except for visits to her
+aunt at Fontainebleau, Joséphine passed all her time in her Paris
+apartment. Then, on account of the new law regarding “suspects,” she
+found it desirable to have a domicile outside the city, in order to
+obtain a certificate of _civisme_ (good citizenship). For some
+unknown reason, instead of using Fontainebleau, she decided upon
+Croissy, a village on the Seine about ten miles from Versailles.
+Here she sub-leased a house from Madame Hosten, a Creole friend
+from Sainte-Lucie, who lived at Paris in the same hôtel, Rue
+Saint-Dominique. She had a daughter of about the same age as Hortense,
+and the mothers had become intimate friends. The 26 September 1793,
+the Citoyenne Beauharnais presented herself at the municipality of
+Croissy to make her declaration, and two days later she was joined
+by her son Eugène, who came from his school at Strasbourg. In her
+declaration there is no mention of Hortense, but this was probably
+only an oversight. Mlle. de Vergennes, who passed this summer of 1793
+at Croissy, states that it was then that she made the acquaintance of
+Hortense, who was three or four years younger than herself. At this
+time, Joséphine, to prove her civisme, placed Hortense with her old
+nurse Marie Lanoy at Paris, as an apprentice to learn dress-making, and
+Eugène was articled to one Cochard, a carpenter, who was the national
+agent of the commune of Croissy.
+
+This attack of civic fever, however, did not prevent Joséphine from
+seeking society, and extending her acquaintance among the residents
+of Croissy. Among the friends she made at this time were: Chanorier,
+through whom she afterwards bought Malmaison; Mlle. de Vergennes, who
+as Madame de Rémusat was to be her dame du palais; and Réal, who was to
+become Councillor of State, commandant of the Légion d’honneur, comte
+of the Empire.
+
+During the month of January 1794, armed with her certificate of
+civisme, Joséphine returned to her apartment in Paris.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Leaving Strasbourg so precipitately that he had not time to take with
+him his carriages and horses, Alexandre proceeded directly to his
+home at Ferté. From there he made haste to write the Jacobin Club of
+Blois to announce his early visit. On his first appearance, however, he
+was greeted with insults. He made a spirited reply, and thought that
+he had saved the situation. Reassured, he leased a small house in the
+city, and endeavored to gain the good will of his neighbors. At the
+same time he opened correspondence with his wife: in the face of their
+common peril, a kind of intimacy was established between them. In the
+meanwhile he was elected mayor of the little commune of Ferté.
+
+But Alexandre was not to enjoy very long his quiet life in the
+country. On the 2 March 1794, by order of the Committee of General
+Security, he was arrested, and conducted to Paris, where, on the 14
+March, he was confined in the Carmes. On the 19 April, by order of
+the same Committee, Joséphine was also arrested, at Croissy, taken to
+Paris, and placed in the same prison. The old convent of the church
+of Saint-Joseph des Carmes, its walls still stained with the blood of
+the September Massacres, is standing to-day in the Rue Vaugirard close
+by the Luxembourg and the Odéon. At that time, it was one of the most
+insanitary prisons of Paris. It was cold, damp, dirty; infested with
+vermin; poorly ventilated, and badly lighted.
+
+However, the society was excellent, although rather mixed. Grands
+seigneurs and grandes dames were mingled promiscuously with domestics
+and artisans.
+
+There Joséphine was thrown again with her husband, and there seems
+to have been a good understanding between them, but nothing more.
+Alexandre conceived a great passion for Delphine de Custine, while
+Joséphine engaged in a violent flirtation with General Hoche, who
+entered the Carmes at about the same time.
+
+Every possible effort was made by Alexandre and Joséphine to secure
+their liberty. Through Eugène and Hortense, who were allowed to visit
+their mother, communication was kept up with the outside world.
+Joséphine’s surly pug dog, Fortuné, which was not noticed in the crowd,
+carried letters placed under her collar.
+
+The case against Alexandre, however, was too strong for him to hope for
+acquittal: his military career, his neglect to relieve Mayence, his
+desertion of his post, made a record hard to defend. On the 22 July,
+he was taken to the Conciergerie. Realizing that it was the end, as he
+passed Madame de Custine, he handed her as a farewell present an Arab
+talisman mounted in a ring which he always wore on his finger.
+
+Alexandre faced death bravely. In those days, if few knew how to
+live, all knew how to die. Without trial, without testimony, without
+pleadings, without verdict, he was hurried to the guillotine in a batch
+of fifty-five victims.
+
+It was the 5 Thermidor. _Four days more!_
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER FOUR
+
+ 1794–1795
+
+ AFTER THE TERROR
+
+ Paris During the Terror--The Fall of Robespierre--Joy of the
+ Prisoners--Joséphine Set Free--Her Behavior in Prison--She
+ Returns to Croissy--Her Relations with Hoche--Her Financial
+ Difficulties--Her Banker, Emmery--Her Love of Luxury--Her
+ Intimacy with Madame Tallien--Their Similar Tastes--Thérésia
+ Abandons Tallien--Joséphine’s New Home--She Places Her Children
+ in School--Paul Barras--His Political Prominence--His Liaison
+ with Joséphine--His Court at the Luxembourg
+
+
+No words can depict the conditions in Paris during the “Great Terror,”
+which began in March 1794, and ended with the fall of Robespierre on
+the 27 July. The Law of the Suspects kept the prisons packed; the
+guillotine was constantly employed: the whole nation appeared doomed to
+the scaffold. The final seven weeks between the 23 Prairial (11 June)
+and the 9 Thermidor were horrible. It was nothing more nor less than
+a massacre: in the course of these forty-five days 1376 heads fell in
+Paris. “Fear was on every side; drawing-rooms were empty; wine shops
+were deserted; the very courtesans ceased to go to the Palais-Royal,
+where virtue now reigned supreme. The Convention was well-nigh
+deserted; the deputies had given up sleeping at home.”
+
+When the head of Robespierre fell under the guillotine, a mighty shout
+of joy went up from the one hundred thousand beings massed in the Place
+de la Révolution. In the popular estimation, Robespierre had been the
+incarnation of the Terror, therefore his downfall meant the end of the
+Terror. No such thought had been in the minds of Barras and Tallien
+when they struck down the dictator, but they were not slow to take
+advantage of this reaction in public opinion.
+
+The joy of the populace, however, was nothing in comparison with the
+delight of the reprieved prisoners who had been hopelessly awaiting
+death. The daily roll-call had ceased: it was never to be heard again.
+While the tumbrils conveyed to the scaffold the dreaded instruments of
+the Terror--Fouquier and the judges and jurymen, the former captives
+were daily set free. At the same time a hundred thousand “suspects”
+issued from their hiding places. Their joy was beyond words: “It was as
+if they had risen from the tomb, or been born into life again.”
+
+Joséphine was one of the first of the prisoners to gain her liberty:
+ten days after the fall of Robespierre, on the 19 Thermidor (6 August),
+she left the Carmes. One of her companions in misfortune has drawn a
+sketch of her behavior in prison which is not wholly flattering: “She
+was pusillanimous in the highest degree.... She passed her time in
+telling her fortune with cards, and in weeping in public, to the great
+scandal of her companions. But she was naturally affable, and does not
+this trait make us oblivious to many qualities which are lacking? Her
+_tournure_, her manners, her voice above all, had a particular
+charm; but it must be admitted that she was neither magnanimous nor
+frank; the other prisoners pitied her for her lack of courage.”
+
+Nevertheless, Joséphine was very popular: “When the prisoners heard
+her name pronounced, they applauded furiously.” With that grace which
+never left her, “she made her adieux to each one, and left amidst the
+good wishes and blessings of all.” It has been stated that she owed her
+prompt liberation to Madame de Fontenoy, the future Madame Tallien,
+“her companion in prison,” but Thérésia was confined in La Force and
+not at the Carmes. Joséphine had other friends, however, who were
+not less powerful: Hoche, who left his prison on the 4 August, Réal,
+Barrère, Tallien--to mention only a few of the names. Tallien himself
+always claimed the honor, and to him Eugène gave the credit at a later
+date.
+
+But very little is known of the life of Joséphine during the twelve
+months following her release from prison. As the seals were still
+attached to her apartment in the Rue Saint-Dominique, she probably
+passed the autumn of 1794 in her house at Croissy. Barras states in
+his _Mémoires_ that on leaving the Carmes she became the mistress
+of Hoche. If so, the liaison must have been very brief. Hoche was
+transferred to the Conciergerie the middle of May, and was set free
+only two days before Joséphine. Twelve days later he was appointed,
+general-in-chief of the Army of the Côtes de Cherbourg, and left Paris
+to take up his new command not later than the first of September. At
+this time he seems to have been very much in love with his young wife,
+from whom he had been separated almost immediately after their marriage
+in February, by being ordered to the Army of Italy, and later by his
+imprisonment. Admitting that he carried on a lively flirtation with
+Joséphine during the few weeks that they were thrown together in the
+Carmes, it seems much more probable that Hoche passed with his bride
+the short period that he was in Paris at this time.
+
+Futhermore, it is absurd to attempt to draw any conclusions as to this
+liaison from the fact that Hoche gave Eugène a position on his staff.
+The general had been in close relations with Alexandre in the army,
+and these ties had been drawn closer by their confinement in the same
+prison. What then could be more natural, than the wish of Hoche to
+relieve the burden of his friend’s widow by assuming the responsibility
+of her son? This also is his own explanation of the matter in a letter
+written to the marquis two years later, after the second marriage of
+Joséphine.
+
+There is no doubt, however, that during these twelve months Joséphine
+was in great financial difficulties. She had on her hands the lease
+both of her Paris apartment and the house at Croissy. Her father had
+left his affairs in great confusion, and the difficulty of getting
+money from Martinique was further increased by the war with England. In
+February 1794 the English had taken possession of the island, and the
+Tascher estate was in the hands of the enemy. In France the property of
+her husband had been confiscated by the Government.
+
+The expenses of Joséphine’s household at this time were quite heavy.
+She had three domestics: the nurse, Marie Lanoy; the maid, Agathe
+Rible; and the valet (_officieux_), Gontier. She not only paid
+them no wages, however, but even borrowed their little savings. Her
+principal resource was a M. Emmery, a banker at Dunkerque, who for many
+years had had business relations with the Taschers.
+
+This Emmery had been colonel of the National Guard, deputy to the
+Legislative Assembly, and mayor of Dunkerque. During the Terror he was
+imprisoned, and only a serious illness saved him from the guillotine.
+In the Year Three (1794–5) he was again elected mayor, and resumed his
+commerce with the Antilles. For a period of three years he had advanced
+to Joséphine the funds of which she had need.
+
+On the first day of January 1795, Joséphine writes her mother that
+without the aid of her friend Emmery she does not know what would
+have become of her. She urges Madame Tascher to remit to her, either
+through London or Hambourg, all the funds at her disposal, not merely
+the income, but also the capital sum. Her mother seems to have done
+her best, but the remittance was only moderate in amount. Joséphine
+then drew on her mother a sight draft for one thousand pounds sterling,
+writing her at the same time, how important it was for her to meet the
+draft, as the money was due to friends who had already advanced it to
+her. In the meantime she succeeded in having the seals removed from her
+apartment, and recovered possession of her effects. She also managed to
+have turned over to her the silver and books left by Alexandre in his
+country house, and was paid by the Government the sum of ten thousand
+livres on account of the furniture which had been sold.
+
+From these few details it is possible to judge how precarious was the
+life of Joséphine during the greater part of this year. But with the
+small remittances she received from Martinique, with money which she
+borrowed on every side, with bills which she contracted everywhere, she
+somehow managed to exist; and her life was far from being devoid of
+luxury. She was not a woman to walk, and must have a carriage, which
+she hired by the month. She had not yet worked out the combination by
+which she obtained, in June 1795, from the Committee of Public Safety,
+a carriage and two horses in exchange for the horses and equipages
+which Alexandre had left with the Army of the Rhine. She was fond of
+flowers, and could not live without them. Her toilettes, which were
+quite modest, included such items as a piece of muslin at 500 livres,
+two pairs of silk stockings at 700 livres, and a shawl at 1200 livres.
+But let not the reader be amazed at these figures: a thousand livres
+assignats then represented only about fifty-three livres in gold.
+
+At this time Joséphine was on very intimate terms with Madame Tallien,
+the most beautiful woman of her day. Thérésia was the daughter of
+Francis Cabarrus, a famous banker and finance minister of Spain. In
+1788, at the age of fourteen, she was married to the elderly Comte
+de Fontenoy, a councillor of the Parlement of Bordeaux. During the
+early days of the Revolution, her wit and beauty made her a favorite
+in the salons of Paris. Later she attempted with her husband to join
+her father in Spain, but they were arrested at Bordeaux as suspects.
+At that time Tallien was exercising all the rigors of the Terror in
+the department of the Gironde. He thus met Thérésia, fell in love
+with her, and released Fontenoy on condition that he should apply for
+a divorce. She then became at first the mistress and later the wife
+of the proconsul. After the Reign of Terror, and the dictatorship of
+Robespierre, the woman-hater, the new régime found its incarnation in
+this woman of easy morals! It is a curious fact that, after her divorce
+by Tallien in 1802, she married Prince de Chimay, and became the
+mother of a son who espoused Émilie, the daughter of Napoleon and the
+lovely Madame Pellapra. She was, so far as known, the only daughter of
+the Emperor.
+
+There were many points of resemblance between Joséphine and Thérésia.
+Both had the same tastes, the same desires, the same love of luxury.
+Neither of them had any moral scruples, and they were both looking for
+some one rich enough to satisfy their caprices--husband or lover, it
+mattered little which. Thérésia, who was only twenty years of age at
+this time, had the advantage over Joséphine both of youth and beauty,
+but in grace and charm she could not be compared with the fascinating
+Creole.
+
+Thérésia was not a woman to be satisfied long with a man like Tallien.
+She soon found their “Chaumière,” in the Allée des Veuves, too small
+a theatre for her talents. Nothing would satisfy her but the rarest
+flowers, the most exquisite wines, and toilettes which did not cost
+less from the fact that they were most diaphanous. From Tallien she
+passed to Barras, who soon turned her over to the rich banker Ouvrard,
+“tout en conservant les privautés qui lui conviennent.”
+
+In August 1795, when her affairs were still in the same precarious
+condition, Joséphine leased from Julie Carreau, the wife of the actor
+Talma, from whom she was separated, a little hôtel _entre cour et
+jardin_ at Number 6, Rue Chantereine. This was a short street
+recently laid out from the Faubourg Montmartre to the Chaussée-d’Antin.
+It was lined with the residences of _filles entretenues_. The
+lease was for three years, with privilege of two renewals, and the
+rent was 10,000 francs in assignats.
+
+The entrance to the hôtel was by a porte-cochère through a long
+corridor, at the end of which was a little garden, with two small
+pavilions which contained the stable and carriage-house. In the middle
+was the house, consisting only of a _rez-de-chaussée_ with an
+attic above and cellar below. There were five rooms: an antechamber,
+a bedroom, a salon, which also served as a dining-room, another small
+salon, used as a boudoir, and a wardrobe. The servants’ quarters
+were in the attic. Although small, the house demanded quite a staff
+of servants: a porter, a coachman, a chef, and a femme de chambre.
+Joséphine at this time set-up her carriage, with two horses: the same
+which she had obtained from the Government.
+
+Before taking possession of her new home Joséphine had spent a very
+considerable amount in repairing and adding to the furniture of her
+apartment in Rue Saint-Dominique. Nothing, however, was very luxurious.
+The salon was furnished only with a round mahogany table, and four
+chairs covered with black horse-hair. On the walls were hung a few
+prints framed in dark wood.
+
+It is interesting to note in passing that this short street, or rather
+the locality where it was afterwards laid out, was originally known
+under the name of _la Victoire_. Later the place was called
+Chantereine on account of the frogs which chanted there. After the
+Campaign of Italy it was again called Rue de la Victoire in honor of
+Napoleon, and is still known by that name to-day.
+
+At this time, the nurse Marie Lanoy was no longer with Joséphine, as
+she had placed Hortense in the new school which Madame Campan had just
+founded at Saint-Germain. She also sent for Eugène, whom Hoche would
+have been only too glad to keep on his staff, and placed him in quite
+an expensive institution which had just been opened at Saint-Germain
+under the name of the Collège Irlandais.
+
+The overthrow of Robespierre on the 9 Thermidor was due largely to
+Barras, and for the next two years he was perhaps the most prominent
+man in France. For power in itself he cared but little, but he greatly
+enjoyed the advantages derived from it: the money, the luxury, and
+above all the women.
+
+Paul Barras was born in Provence in 1755 of a good family. In his youth
+he served as a lieutenant against the British in India. In 1789 he was
+chosen a member of the States-General, and took an active part in the
+storming of the Bastille and the Tuileries. The siege of Toulon owed
+its success largely to his activity and energy. After the 9 Thermidor,
+as president of the Convention he acted with decision both against
+the intrigues of the Royalists and the excesses of the Jacobins. He
+was brave, he was a gentleman, and with much reason he despised the
+rabble by whom he was surrounded. As Lefebvre said of Talleyrand: “He
+was a mess of filth in a silk stocking.” But unlike Talleyrand he had
+courage, and, when occasion demanded, did not hesitate to draw the
+sword and throw away the scabbard.
+
+It was a curious side of the nature of Barras that while he associated
+with the commonest of men, he wished to have around him only women
+of the _Ancien Régime_. He must have, in his intimate relations,
+grace, elegance and distinction. He could not expect to find ladies
+of the highest rank: they had all emigrated or died on the scaffold;
+but he sought those who, to save their heads or their fortunes, had
+compromised themselves with the leaders of the popular party, and who
+with the return of luxury were ready to do anything to satisfy their
+caprices. He had not money enough to meet their demands from his own
+resources, but he put them in contact with bankers and contractors whom
+he exploited himself, and whom he permitted them to exploit in turn.
+
+Among this galaxy of pretty women of loose morals the bright particular
+stars were Thérésia and Joséphine. Some one must have paid for the
+new luxury of Joséphine, and there is little doubt that Barras was
+at this time her lover. He is ungallant enough to say so in his
+_Mémoires_, and for once he seems to have told the truth.
+
+As president of the Convention, member of the Committee of General
+Security, general-in-chief of the Army of the Interior, Barras was
+really more powerful then than later as a member of the Directory.
+In July 1795 he returned from a mission to the North; on the 13
+Vendémiaire (5 October) he commanded the troops of the Convention;
+on the first of November he became a Director; and on the fourth he
+installed himself at the Luxembourg.
+
+There is a remarkable coincidence between these dates and the events in
+the life of Joséphine. On the 17 August she signed her lease for the
+Hôtel Chantereine; the following month she sent her children to school;
+the second of October she moved into her new home; and the sixth she
+gave the orders to furnish luxuriously her chambre à coucher.
+
+By midsummer the liaison was already well established, and during the
+autumn they met frequently at Croissy. “We had Madame de Beauharnais
+for a neighbor,” writes Pasquier. “Her house adjoined our own. She only
+came there occasionally, once a week, to meet Barras with the many
+persons who followed in his suite.... As is not rare with Creoles, the
+house of Madame de Beauharnais had an air of luxury while the most
+essential things were lacking. Chicken, game, rare fruits, filled the
+kitchen, while they came to our humble abode to borrow the kitchen
+utensils, plates and glasses which they lacked.”
+
+On the 4 November 1795 the newly elected Directors took possession of
+the Luxembourg, which had been assigned them as an official residence.
+The palace had been used as a prison during the Revolution, and all of
+the furniture had mysteriously disappeared. There was no one to receive
+them except the concierge, who loaned them for their first meeting a
+dilapidated table and some cane-bottomed chairs. As soon as the salons
+were refurnished and Barras began to hold his “Court,” Joséphine and
+Thérésia were among the first to appear. This Court was made up of
+women of the old noblesse, and there reigned, in spite of assertions
+to the contrary, a very good tone: a certain cold reserve, rather than
+the _abandon_ of bad taste. The ladies were nearly all widows, and
+very few husbands were to be seen.
+
+Besides the Luxembourg, and her house at Croissy, Joséphine also met
+Barras at a house which he owned or leased at Chaillot, as is shown by
+a letter still in existence:
+
+“The Citoyenne Beauharnais invites the Citoyen Réal to give her the
+pleasure of his company for dinner _chez elle_ (at her home)
+to-morrow the twenty-fifth: the Citoyens Barras and Tallien are to be
+present.”
+
+This letter is dated the 24 Pluviôse An IV (13 February 1796) and is
+written from the residence of Barras at Chaillot!
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER FIVE
+
+ 1796
+
+ THE CITIZENESS BONAPARTE
+
+ The 13 Vendémiaire--The Parisians Disarmed--Eugène Reclaims
+ His Father’s Sword--Joséphine Meets General Bonaparte--Her
+ Appearance at That Time--She Writes the General--One of His Love
+ Letters--He Decides on Marriage--Joséphine’s Hesitation--Her
+ Final Consent--The Contract--The Civil Ceremony--Bonaparte
+ Leaves for Italy
+
+
+In October 1795 there was a revolt of the Sections of Paris against the
+new Constitution, and above all against the new “Law of Two-Thirds,” by
+which the members of the Convention had sought to secure the election
+of two-thirds of their number to the new Corps Législatif. Barras was
+placed in command of the troops of the Convention, and he appointed
+as his aide de camp, or chief of staff, a young artillery officer
+named Napoleon Bonaparte, who had distinguished himself at the siege
+of Toulon. Bonaparte easily put down the uprising, and the Convention
+showed its gratitude: he was named général en second of the Army of
+the Interior, 8 October; promoted general of division, 16 October; and
+succeeded Barras as general-in-chief of the Army of the Interior on the
+26 October.
+
+The day of the insurrection, the 13 Vendémiaire (5 October), and the
+following day, Joséphine was at Fontainebleau, where she had gone to
+select some furniture to be sent to her new house in Paris. A week
+after her return she was notified of the order of the Committee of
+Public Safety that all citizens of Paris must surrender the arms in
+their possession. This seems to have been a matter of indifference to
+her, but Eugène, who was at home, protested warmly against giving up
+his father’s sword. The commissioner consented to let him keep it if he
+secured the authorization of the general-in-chief. Eugène immediately
+went to the headquarters of General Bonaparte in the Rue des Capucines
+to make his request. The profound emotion which he displayed; his
+name; his pleasant face and manners; the warmth with which he made his
+plea--all touched the general, who gave him permission to keep the
+sabre.
+
+Naturally the mother of Eugène came to express her thanks, as was only
+polite. Thus chance brought together General Bonaparte and the former
+Vicomtesse de Beauharnais. With Napoleon it was a case of love at first
+sight. His heart, his mind, his imagination--all were taken by storm.
+She was a lady, a _grande dame_, a ci-devant vicomtesse, the widow
+of a president of the Constituent Assembly, of a general-in-chief of
+the Army of the Rhine. All this meant much to Bonaparte: the title, the
+social position, the noble air with which she expressed her gratitude.
+For the first time the young Corsican found himself in the presence of
+a real lady of high society. He was invited to call on her some evening
+when he was free, and the next night he rung at the porte-cochère of
+the little hôtel in the Rue Chantereine.
+
+When Joséphine met Napoleon about the middle of October 1795, she was
+already more than thirty-two years old--a mature age for a Creole. Her
+hair, which was not thick, but fine in quality, was of a dark chestnut
+color. Her complexion was brunette. Her skin was already wrinkled, but
+so covered with powder and rouge that the fact was not apparent under a
+subdued light. Her teeth were bad, but no one ever saw them. Her very
+small mouth was never more than slightly opened, in a sweet smile which
+accorded perfectly with the infinite softness of her eyes with their
+long eyelashes, with the tender expression of her features, with the
+touching quality of her voice. And with that, “un petit nez fringant,
+léger, mobile, aux narines perpétuellement battantes, un nez un pen
+relevé du bout, engageant et fripon, qui provoque le désir.”
+
+Her head however could not be mentioned in comparison with her form, so
+free and so svelte, without a sign of embonpoint. She wore no corset,
+not even a _brassière_, to sustain her breast, which was low and
+flat.
+
+Lucien writes in his _Mémoires_ that she had very little wit, and
+no trace of what could be called beauty, but there were certain Creole
+characteristics in the pliant undulations of her figure, which was
+rather below the average height.
+
+Arnault, in his _Souvenirs_, says that she had a charm which
+transcended the dazzling beauty of her two rivals, Mesdames Tallien and
+Récamier.
+
+Madame de Rémusat describes her friend in these words: “Without being
+precisely beautiful, her whole person was possessed of a peculiar
+charm.... Her figure was perfect, every outline well rounded and
+graceful; every motion, easy and elegant. Her taste in dress was
+excellent.... Her education had been rather neglected, but she knew
+wherein she was wanting, and never betrayed her ignorance. Naturally
+tactful, she found it easy to say agreeable things.”
+
+With all these qualities, the _femme_ attracted Napoleon at
+their first meeting, while the _dame_ impressed him by her air
+of dignity, as he put it: “Ce maintien calme et noble de l’ancienne
+société française.”
+
+The first call was quickly followed by another, and soon Bonaparte was
+a daily visitor at the little hôtel. Events moved rapidly in those
+days, and two weeks after the first visit Napoleon and Joséphine were
+already on most intimate terms. On the 28 October she writes him:
+
+ You no longer come to see a friend who loves you; you have
+ entirely neglected her: you are very wrong, for she is tenderly
+ attached to you.
+
+ Come to breakfast with me to-morrow; I must see you and talk
+ with you about your interests.
+
+ Good night, my friend, I embrace you.
+
+ VEUVE BEAUHARNAIS
+
+Henceforth Napoleon follows Joséphine everywhere. He accompanies her
+to, or meets her at, the houses that she frequents; he makes the
+acquaintance of Madame Tallien; as soon as the receptions begin at the
+Luxembourg he joins her there.
+
+It is at this time that he writes her one of the first of his glowing
+love letters:
+
+“I awake full of thoughts of thee. Thy image and the intoxicating
+evening of yesterday have left no repose to my senses. Sweet and
+incomparable Joséphine, what strange effect do you have upon my
+heart? If thou art displeased, or sad, or uneasy, my soul is overcome
+with grief, and there is no rest for thy friend; but it is entirely
+different, when, yielding to the profound sentiment which masters me, I
+draw from thy lips, thy heart, a scorching flame.... I shall see thee
+in three hours. In the meantime, my dear love (_mio dolce amor_),
+a million kisses, but do not give me any, for they set my blood on
+fire.”
+
+On the 21 January, anniversary of the execution of “the last king of
+the French,” Barras gives a large dinner. Among those present are
+Joséphine and Thérésia. Bonaparte’s conversation is very animated, and
+he appears to interest the ladies greatly. After dinner they retire
+to one of the private salons, and the general sits on a sofa between
+Thérésia and Joséphine. The liaison seems to be generally recognized.
+
+It is impossible to state at what date Napoleon conceived the idea of
+transforming “en mariage cette bonne fortune,” but it was probably when
+his appointment to Italy was practically decided upon, and he knew that
+they must soon be separated.
+
+For her part Joséphine hesitated for some weeks. In a letter to a
+friend she admits that she does not love Napoleon, but adds that her
+feeling towards him is one of indifference, rather than of dislike.
+She admires the General’s courage, the vivacity of his mind, which
+enables him to grasp the thoughts of others almost before they have
+been expressed, but she is afraid of his domineering nature. She is
+also frightened by the force of his passion, which he expresses with
+an energy which leaves no room for doubt of his sincerity. Can she,
+a woman whose youth is past, hope to hold for any length of time
+this violent love which resembles a fit of delirium? Will he not
+later regret having failed to make a more advantageous marriage, and
+reproach her with what he has done for her?
+
+Joséphine consulted all of her society friends. They told her that
+Bonaparte had genius, and would go far; that it was no secret that
+Carnot intended to give him the command of the Army of Italy. Still
+she hesitated: she was nearly thirty-three years of age--almost an
+old woman; but what else could she do? She knew how uncertain was the
+attachment of Barras, how little trust she could place in him. She was
+tempted to accept this chance, perhaps the last she would ever have,
+and link her fortune to that of this brilliant youth, so ardent, and so
+passionate in his vows of eternal devotion.
+
+This unexpected opportunity, this union with Bonaparte, who was to
+make true for her all and more than all that she could ever have
+dreamed, Joséphine was far from grasping at first. It was to be months
+and years before she fully realized her good fortune. Even after she
+understood what Napoleon meant to her, she never really appreciated
+the _man_--it was beyond her intelligence. She was fond of her
+position as the wife of the head of the State, but did she ever love
+Napoleon for himself?
+
+On the 24 February Joséphine finally made up her mind. Only eleven
+days before, she had done the honors of the little house of Barras at
+Chaillot!
+
+Nevertheless, she had precautions to take: above all to conceal her
+age, for she did not wish to admit the facts to this boy of twenty-six.
+She placed the matter in the hands of her man of confidence, Calmelet,
+who appeared before a notary and certified that “he knew Marie-Josèphe
+Tascher, widow of the citizen Beauharnais; that she was a native of
+the island of Martinique, in the Windward Islands; and that, at this
+moment, it was impossible for him to procure her birth-certificate on
+account of the actual occupation of the island by the British.” Armed
+with this declaration, Joséphine was able to state to the civil officer
+who performed the marriage that she was born on the 23 June 1766, while
+she was really born three years before.
+
+The marriage contract was one of the most remarkable ever drawn up in
+France: no details of the bride’s property were given; all that she
+possessed was to belong to the _communauté_ which existed between
+her and the late M. de Beauharnais. For his part, Bonaparte did not
+hesitate to admit his lack of fortune. He stated that he had nothing
+except his wardrobe and his war equipment, upon which he placed a
+merely nominal value.
+
+The contract was signed the 8 March 1796, and the marriage took
+place the following day, before a civil officer, who graciously gave
+the groom twenty-eight years instead of twenty-six, and the bride
+twenty-nine in place of thirty-two. This mayor, remarks a commentator,
+had a mania for _égalité_! The witnesses were Lemarrois, an aide
+de camp of the General, who was a minor; the inevitable Calmelet;
+Tallien and Barras! No mention was made of the consent of the parents:
+they had not been consulted.
+
+Two days later Bonaparte was on his way to Italy, leaving his bride
+alone in the Hôtel Chantereine. “Heureusement on avait pris des avances
+sur la lune de miel.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER SIX
+
+ 1796
+
+ THE VICTORY FESTIVALS
+
+ Bonaparte en Route for Italy--His First Letter to Joséphine--Her
+ Indifference--His Second Letter--Brilliant Opening of the
+ Campaign--Bonaparte’s Proclamation--He Writes Joséphine to
+ Rejoin Him--Presentation of the Battle Flags--Description of
+ Joséphine’s Appearance--Victory of Lodi--The Fête Given by the
+ Directory
+
+
+From this time on, the life of Joséphine is so closely associated
+with that of Napoleon that it is impossible to speak of her without
+mentioning him.
+
+Leaving Paris on the 11 March 1796, forty-eight hours after his
+marriage, Bonaparte set out for Italy, accompanied only by his
+aides de camp, Berthier, Duroc, Junot, Marmont and Murat, and his
+paymaster-general Chauvet, who carried with him 48,000 francs in
+gold--a small sum for the succor of an army which had long been
+destitute of everything.
+
+En route Napoleon stopped a night with the father of Marmont at
+Châtillon-sur-Seine. Here he wrote Joséphine, enclosing a power of
+attorney to enable her to collect some money which was due him.
+
+On the 14 March, at six o’clock in the evening, from the relay station
+at Chanceaux, he despatched his first long letter. He wrote:
+
+“Every moment carries me further away from you, my dearest love, and
+every instant finds me with less force to endure my separation from
+you. You are the constant object of my thoughts, and my imagination is
+exhausted in trying to conceive what you are doing. If I think that you
+are sad, my heart is torn, and my grief intensified; if you are gay,
+playful with your friends, I reproach you for having so soon forgotten
+the painful separation of three days.... As you see, I am not easy to
+satisfy; but, my dear love, it is very different if I fear that your
+health is altered, or that you have reasons for grief: then I regret
+the speed which carries me away from my heart. If I am asked if I
+have slept well, before replying I must have a courier to let me know
+that you have had a good night.... May my good angel, who has always
+protected me in the midst of the greatest dangers, surround and cover
+you, and leave me exposed.... Write me, my dearest love, and at length,
+and receive the thousand and one kisses of the most devoted and most
+faithful of lovers.”
+
+At this time Joséphine was very far from reciprocating the love of
+her husband. He adored her, while she was only moderately touched
+by his passion. His strange, violent character, inspired her with
+astonishment, rather than with sympathy. She was in her element in this
+brilliant, but bizarre society of the Directory, which tried to imitate
+the former splendors of Versailles. She enjoyed the opening of the
+few salons, where her grace and amiability caused her to be generally
+admired. She gave but few thoughts to this young Republican general,
+to whom Destiny had united her, who seemed to her more of an eccentric
+than a genius.
+
+Napoleon turned from his route to pass two days with his mother at
+Marseille and hand her a letter from Joséphine. His mother was not
+yet reconciled to his marriage, and it was only after a hard struggle,
+and a family council of war, that Madame Letitia was finally persuaded
+to write a very formal and stilted letter of congratulation to her new
+daughter-in-law.
+
+A week later, the 29 March, Bonaparte arrived at Nice, and took command
+of the Army of Italy. During the opening days of this marvellous
+campaign, which was to render his name immortal, Napoleon was not so
+carried away with ambition as to be forgetful of his love. Before the
+first battle, he wrote Joséphine from Port-Maurice on the 3 April:
+
+“I have received all your letters, but none of them has made such an
+impression on me as the last. What can be your idea, my adorable love,
+to write me in such terms? The sentiments that you express are like
+fire: they consume my poor heart! Do you not think that my position is
+already critical enough without increasing my regrets and upsetting my
+spirit?... My only Joséphine, away from you there is no joy; far from
+you, the world is a desert, where I am alone. You have taken away from
+me more than my soul; you are the one thought of my life. If I am weary
+with the burden of affairs, if I fear the outcome, if I am disgusted
+with men, if I am ready to curse life, I place my hand upon my heart:
+your portrait beats there; I regard it, and love is for me absolute
+happiness: all is gay except the space that I am separated from my
+love.”
+
+His whole soul in a state of ecstasy over the receipt of a few tender
+lines traced by the adored hand, he continues: “By what art have you
+been able to captivate all my faculties, to concentrate in yourself
+my moral existence? To live for Joséphine is the whole aim of my
+life! I strive to be near you; I die to approach you. Fool! I did not
+realize that I was separating myself from you. How many lands, how many
+countries lie between us, how many days before you read these lines
+which are but feeble expressions of a troubled heart where you reign.”
+
+Unfortunately the sunshine of love is never long without its clouds,
+and Bonaparte, who was then in the seventh heaven of joy and
+confidence, was soon to become suspicious and jealous. Although he
+did not as yet doubt either the love or the fidelity of his wife,
+at times he was overcome with melancholy. But this feeling was not
+of long duration. The lover soon was lost in the man of action.
+Victory followed victory with amazing rapidity. From the heights of
+Monte-Zemolo the army suddenly saw at its feet the fertile plains of
+Italy, the promised land, with its splendid cities, its broad rivers,
+its cultivated fields. A shout of joy broke from the ranks. The young
+general, pointing to the scene of his coming triumphs, cried: “Hannibal
+scaled the Alps; we have turned them!”
+
+After the armistice of Cherasco, on the 28 April, Bonaparte thus summed
+up in a few ringing words the achievements of his army:
+
+“Soldiers! In two weeks you have gained six victories, captured
+twenty-one flags, fifty cannon, several strong places, and have
+conquered the richest part of Piedmont. You have made fifteen thousand
+prisoners, and killed or wounded ten thousand men. Destitute of all,
+you have supplied everything. You have gained battles without cannon,
+crossed rivers without bridges, made forced marches without shoes,
+often bivouacked without bread. Only Republican phalanxes are capable
+of deeds so extraordinary. Thanks to you, soldiers!”
+
+ [Illustration: GENERAL BONAPARTE]
+
+On the 24 April Bonaparte sent his brother Joseph and his aide de camp
+Junot to Paris. Joseph was the bearer of a letter to Joséphine in which
+her husband strongly urged her to rejoin him in Italy. Junot carried
+the flags captured from the enemy, to be presented to the Directory.
+
+In his _Mémoires_ Joseph tells the story of their journey. They
+left in the same post-chaise, and reached Paris in five days after
+their departure from Nice. En route they were everywhere received
+with the greatest enthusiasm. At Paris the Directors expressed their
+satisfaction with the army and its commander.
+
+Murat, who had been sent directly from Cherasco with the papers of the
+armistice, reached Paris before Joseph and Junot. Joséphine received
+from the three envoys the most circumstantial details of the success of
+her husband. Like Napoleon, she had passed in a few days from obscurity
+to glory. For the first time she began to realize that she had not made
+a mistake in marrying the young hero of Vendémiaire.
+
+The _Moniteur_ of the 10 May 1796 contains a report of the formal
+presentation of the flags to the Directory, by Junot, the future Duc
+d’Abrantès.
+
+In her interesting _Mémoires_ Madame d’Abrantès speaks of the
+impression created on this occasion by Madame Bonaparte and Madame
+Tallien who were present. “At that time,” she says, “Madame Bonaparte
+was still charming, while Madame Tallien was in the full flower of
+her beauty.” She continues: “One may well believe that Junot was not
+a little proud to escort these two charming women when they left at
+the end of the reception.... He offered his arm to Madame Bonaparte,
+who, as the wife of his general, had the right to the first place,
+especially on this occasion; the other arm he gave to Madame Tallien,
+and so descended with them the staircase of the Luxembourg.” There was
+an immense crowd outside the palace, and the people pushed and crowded
+to obtain a better view. There were cheers for General Bonaparte, and
+for his charming wife, who was acclaimed as “Notre-Dame-des-Victoires.”
+
+The poet Arnault, in his _Souvenirs d’un sexagénaire_, recalls
+the profound impression made upon him so many years before by the
+loveliness of Joséphine on this occasion. He compares her with her
+two competitors for the sceptre of Venus: Madame Tallien and Madame
+Récamier. “Beside these two rivals,” he says, “although she was not
+so brilliant or so fresh as they, thanks to the regularity of her
+features, the elegant _souplesse_ of her figure, the sweet
+expression of her countenance, she also was beautiful. I can still see
+them, on this perfect May day, as they entered the salon where the
+Directors were to receive the flags. Each of them was attired in the
+toilette the best fitted to show off her particular advantages; their
+heads were crowned with the most beautiful flowers: one would have
+said that the three months of springtime had been reunited to fête the
+victory.”
+
+The same day that the flags were presented, the 10 May, Bonaparte
+gained the spectacular victory of Lodi, which made so vivid an
+impression on the popular imagination. Carrying a banner in his
+hand, at the head of his grenadiers, the young general led the charge
+across the long and narrow bridge upon which the fire of the enemy
+was concentrated. From that time forth, his soldiers believed him
+infallible and irresistible. Five days later he made his triumphal
+entry into Milan.
+
+The day after the battle of Lodi, Salicetti, the commissioner with
+the army, wrote the Directory: “Citizen Directors, immortal glory
+to the Army of Italy! Gratitude to the wisely audacious chief who
+directs it! The date of yesterday will be celebrated in the annals of
+history and of war.... When the Republican column was formed, General
+Bonaparte rushed along the ranks. His presence filled the soldiers with
+enthusiasm. He was received with cries a thousand times repeated of:
+‘Vive la République!’ He ordered the drums to beat the charge, and the
+troops, with the rapidity of lightning, rushed upon the bridge!”
+
+To celebrate the new triumphs the Directory organized a fête, half
+patriotic, half mythological, which was celebrated on the Champ-de-Mars
+the 29 May. At ten o’clock in the morning a salvo of artillery
+announced the beginning of the ceremonies. The National Guard of Paris
+was present, under arms. Carnot, the president of the Directory,
+delivered the oration, which was in the nature of a martial rhapsody.
+He ended his discourse with a glowing tribute to the armies of the
+Republic and their valiant chiefs.
+
+After the fête the people danced on the Champ-de-Mars until nightfall,
+and a grand dinner was given in the evening.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER SEVEN
+
+ 1796–1797
+
+ JOSÉPHINE IN ITALY
+
+ Bonaparte Enters Milan--Joséphine’s Life at Paris--She Finally
+ Starts for Italy--Her Regret in Leaving--Arrival at Milan--The
+ Palace Serbelloni--Her Ennui--Letter to Madame Renaudin--Her
+ Delayed Honeymoon--End of the Campaign--Napoleon’s Letters--The
+ Court of Montebello--The Bonaparte Family Reunion--Joséphine’s
+ Aid to Napoleon’s Policy--The Peace of Campo-Formio--Bonaparte
+ Leaves for Rastadt--His Return to Paris
+
+
+On Sunday the 15 May 1796, Bonaparte made his entry into Milan
+through streets lined by the National Guard, commanded by the Duc de
+Serbelloni. When the general arrived at the Porta Romana the soldiers
+presented arms. Preceded by a large detachment of infantry, and
+surrounded by his guard of cavalry, he proceeded to the archducal
+palace, where he took up his residence. In the evening, there was a
+large dinner given in his honor, followed by a brilliant ball.
+
+But in the midst of his triumphs, Bonaparte was far from happy. His
+adored wife failed to respond to his letters praying her to join him in
+Italy, and he had just received news of the proposal of the Directory
+to divide his forces, giving the northern army to Kellermann, while he
+was to be sent with the balance of the troops to conquer the southern
+part of the Peninsula. He immediately wrote the Directory that he
+considered it most unwise to divide the Army of Italy into two parts,
+and against the best interests of the Republic to have two different
+generals. The majority of the Directory accepted his view of the
+situation and the order was at once cancelled.
+
+Bonaparte found it more difficult, however, to overcome the resistance
+of his wife. Joséphine was more interested in enjoying at Paris the
+triumphs of her husband than in going to join him at Milan. She was
+perfectly happy in her life at home, and had no desire to leave her
+children and her friends. She loved the theatres, the manners of the
+Ancien Régime, which were beginning to reappear, and the receptions at
+the Luxembourg, where she was treated like a queen. It certainly was
+not customary, since the beginning of the wars of the Republic, to see
+the wives of the generals accompany the armies, and it was too much to
+demand of the Creole nature of Joséphine that she should rush to Italy
+at the first call of her husband, and expose herself to the fatigues
+and dangers of a great war.
+
+But Napoleon could not understand her hesitation. He wrote her letter
+after letter, each one more burning and more pressing than the one
+before. Murat, who carried to Paris the papers of the armistice, was
+also the bearer of a letter to Joséphine urging her to rejoin him.
+This letter, which she did not hesitate to show to her friends, was
+characterized by the most violent passion, not entirely free from
+jealousy. Arnault writes: “I can still hear her reading a passage
+in which her husband cries, ‘What are you doing? Why do you not
+come to me? If it is a lover who detains you beware of the poinard
+of Othello!’ And Joséphine, smiling with amusement at his exalted
+sentiments, says with her funny Creole accent, ‘Il est drôle,
+Bonaparte!’”
+
+In his _Life of Napoleon_, Sir Walter Scott writes that the
+correspondence of Bonaparte with Joséphine reveals the curious
+character of a man as ardent in love as in war: the language of the
+conqueror who disposed of States according to his good pleasure, and
+beat the most celebrated generals of his time, is as enthusiastic as
+that of an Arcadian shepherd. The statements of the great English
+writer are certainly borne out by the tone of the long passionate and
+eloquent letter which Napoleon wrote Joséphine on the 15 June 1796
+from Tortona. It was despatched by a special courier, who had orders
+to remain only four hours in Paris, and to bring back her answer.
+Joséphine could not resist this final touching appeal; and she decided,
+although with great regret, to leave for Italy.
+
+Her friend Arnault, in his interesting memoirs, gives us a curious
+insight of the feelings of Joséphine at this time. He says that
+the love which she inspired in a man so extraordinary as Bonaparte
+evidently flattered her, although she took the matter much less
+seriously than he; she was proud to see that he loved her almost as
+much as his glory; she enjoyed this fame which increased from day
+to day; but she wished to enjoy it at Paris, in the midst of the
+acclamations which hailed her appearance, on the receipt of each new
+bulletin from the Army of Italy. Her chagrin was great when she saw
+that there was no chance for further hesitation. She would not have
+exchanged her little hôtel in the Rue Chantereine for the palace
+prepared for her reception at Milan--in fact, for all the palaces in
+the world. It was from the Luxembourg that she finally set out for
+Italy, after having supped there with a few friends. “Poor woman!” says
+Arnault, “she broke out in tears, and sobbed as if she were going to
+the scaffold. She was going to reign!”
+
+Joséphine arrived at Milan the 9 July 1796, escorted by her
+brother-in-law Joseph, by Napoleon’s aide de camp Junot, and by a young
+officer on the staff of General Leclerc, named Hippolyte Charles, whom
+we shall encounter later on in close connection with Joséphine.
+
+Bonaparte, who had not expected so prompt a response to his last
+appeal, was absent on a tour of the principal cities of northern Italy.
+The first day of July he paid a visit to the Grand Duke Ferdinand at
+Florence. From there he went to Bologna and Verona, and did not reach
+Milan until the middle of the month.
+
+What a change in the situation of Bonaparte in the four short months
+since he parted from Joséphine at Paris! In order not to excite the
+jealousy of the Directory he had abandoned the archducal palace, but
+was lodged in almost regal state in the Serbelloni Palace on the
+Corso Venezia, a few squares behind the cathedral. The Serbelloni is
+far handsomer than the Royal Palace and perhaps the most beautiful
+of all the palaces of Milan. Since the opening of the campaign in
+April his troops had overrun nearly all of northern Italy. Piedmont,
+delivered from the yoke of Austria, had made peace with France, and the
+remainder of the Imperial army was blockaded at Mantua. He had treated
+as an equal with the King of Sardinia, the Pope, the Duke of Modena,
+and the Grand Duke of Tuscany, all of whom owed to his generosity
+their political existence. Genoa and Venice, Rome and Naples, had
+all withdrawn from the coalition. The great cities of northern Italy
+had surrendered their most celebrated works of art to enrich the
+collections of the Louvre. Millions of francs had been levied on the
+different States, part of which had supplied his army, while the
+balance had been transmitted to Paris to fill the empty coffers of
+the Directory. What wonder that the name of Bonaparte was everywhere
+acclaimed!
+
+Joséphine passed the summer at Milan, except for a short visit to
+headquarters before the battle of Castiglione. Having resumed the siege
+of Mantua after this victory, Napoleon went to Milan where he spent
+only twenty-four hours with his wife before rejoining his troops.
+
+While Bonaparte was gaining his victories Joséphine was bored to death
+in Italy. The feeling of sadness which oppressed her is shown in a
+letter which she wrote at this time to her aunt Madame Renaudin, who
+had finally married her old lover the Marquis de Beauharnais. The Duc
+de Serbelloni who was going to Paris was charged with the delivery of
+this epistle which ran as follows:
+
+“Monsieur Serbelloni will tell you, my dear aunt, of the manner in
+which I have been received in Italy. All the princes have given me
+fêtes, even the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the brother of the Emperor.
+Well, I prefer to be a simple private individual in France! I do not
+care for the honors of this country; I am much bored. It is true that
+my health contributes much to make me sad; I am often indisposed.
+If good fortune could assure good health, I ought to be well. I
+have the most amiable husband that a woman could hope for. I have no
+chance to desire anything: my wishes are his. All day long he is in a
+position of adoration before me, as if I were a divinity. I could not
+have a better husband. He often writes my children of whom he is very
+fond. He is sending Hortense by M. Serbelloni a beautiful enamelled
+repeating-watch; to Eugène a handsome gold watch.”
+
+Comparatively few of the letters of Joséphine have been preserved for
+us, and this one is particularly interesting because it displays more
+appreciation of her husband’s devotion than we should expect to find.
+
+Ten days after the battle of Arcole, on the 27 November, Napoleon
+returned to Milan, where he expected to find Joséphine. Great was
+his surprise and disappointment to learn that she had accepted an
+invitation from Genoa to pay a visit to the city. There she was given a
+magnificent reception by the citizens who were favorable to the French.
+
+On learning of Napoleon’s arrival Joséphine returned at once to Milan,
+where they spent the month of December together at the Serbelloni
+Palace. It was really their “lune de miel,” the first time that they
+had been united for more than a few hours since their marriage nine
+months before.
+
+Lavalette, who had then just been appointed one of Bonaparte’s aides de
+camp, gives us in his _Mémoires_ an interesting picture of this
+kind of military court. He says: “The general-in-chief was then in
+all the intoxication of his marriage. Madame Bonaparte was charming,
+and all the cares of his command, all the tasks of the government of
+Italy, did not prevent her husband from fully enjoying his domestic
+happiness. It was during this short sojourn at Milan that the young
+painter Gros made the first portrait that we have of the general. He
+represents him upon the bridge of Lodi at the moment that he seized the
+flag and called upon the troops to follow him. The artist could not
+obtain time for a sitting, so Madame Bonaparte took her husband upon
+her knees, after déjeuner, and kept him there for several minutes. I
+was present at three of these sittings: the age of the young couple,
+the modesty of the painter, and his enthusiasm for the hero excuse this
+familiarity.”
+
+With the beginning of the new year Austria resumed hostilities, and
+Bonaparte left Milan to take command of his army. On the 14 January
+he won the brilliant victory of Rivoli, and two days later that of La
+Favorita, which settled the fate of Mantua. Without waiting to receive
+the surrender of the fortress, he proceeded to Tolentino, where on the
+19 February he concluded a treaty with the Pope. Two months later, at
+Leoben, he signed the preliminary articles of peace with Austria, which
+marked the end of the great Campaign of Italy.
+
+During his absence from Joséphine, Napoleon as usual wrote her nearly
+every day. Madame de Rémusat, who is always reluctant to admit that
+Napoleon was ever more controlled by his heart than by his head, is
+nevertheless struck by the passion revealed in every line of this
+correspondence. In her _Mémoires_, she says: “I have seen the
+letters of Napoleon to Madame Bonaparte at the time of the first
+campaign of Italy.... These letters are very singular: a writing almost
+illegible, a faulty spelling, a style bizarre and confused; but
+withal, a tone so passionate, sentiments so strong, expressions so
+animated and at the same time so poetic, a love so apart from all other
+loves, that there is no woman who would not prize having received such
+letters.”
+
+ * * * * *
+
+As Milan is one of the hottest places in Italy, during his second
+summer Napoleon resided at the magnificent château of Montebello (or
+Mombello), which is situated on the old Como road a few miles from
+the city. It was then a great country villa sitting far back from the
+highroad in a large park with cool shady avenues, pretty fountains and
+all the exquisite loveliness of an Italian retreat. From the broad high
+terrace that ran around the front and the sides of the château, the
+Alps could be seen on one side and the beautiful spires of the Milan
+cathedral on the other.
+
+Here most of the Bonaparte family were reunited for the first time
+since they left Corsica four years before. Madame Bonaparte came to
+secure Napoleon’s approval of the marriage of his eldest sister Élisa
+to Félix Bacciochi, which had been celebrated at Marseille the first of
+May, and to persuade him to furnish a dot. Napoleon finally yielded to
+his mother’s wishes, and at the same time informed her of a marriage
+which he had arranged between General Leclerc and his sister Pauline.
+The marriage was celebrated on the 14 June, with both civil and
+religious forms, by the express orders of Napoleon, and the civil union
+of Bacciochi and Élisa was blessed by the Church at the same time.
+
+This family meeting was not prolonged. After a visit of two weeks
+Madame Letitia left for Corsica, accompanied by Élisa and her husband.
+At the same time Joseph set out for Rome, where he had just been made
+minister, taking with him his wife and his youngest sister, Caroline.
+Jérôme was sent back to college at Paris, and Pauline remained in Italy
+with Leclerc, who had been named chief of staff in the army.
+
+The three months which Napoleon and Joséphine passed at Montebello
+were perhaps the happiest of their lives. The Conqueror of Italy lived
+in regal style, surrounded by his military court. The attention of
+Europe was more drawn to this château than to all the palaces of the
+emperors and kings. At Milan, as later at Paris, Joséphine admirably
+served the interests of her husband. By her antecedents, her relations,
+her character, she formed a connecting link between him and the old
+aristocracy: without her, by his own admission made later on, he never
+could have had any natural _rapport_ with the old régime. The
+salon of the former Vicomtesse de Beauharnais recalled the traditions
+of the most brilliant circles of the Faubourg Saint-Germain. Joséphine
+received the noble families of Milan with an exquisite grace, and there
+reigned a kind of etiquette which contrasted in a singular manner with
+the democratic air affected by the general.
+
+On the 18 August Napoleon and Joséphine made a short excursion to Lake
+Maggiore, accompanied by Berthier and Miot. Immediately upon their
+return they set out for Udine where Napoleon was to meet the Austrian
+plenipotentiaries. On the 27 August they arrived at Passeriano where
+they took up their residence in a château still in existence which had
+formerly belonged to a doge of Venice. It was a fine country residence
+situated upon the left bank of the Tagliamento about ten miles from
+Udine.
+
+The peace negotiations had dragged along through the summer and far
+into the autumn of 1797 mainly owing to the hope of the Emperor that
+events in France might turn to his advantage. The coup d’état of the 18
+Fructidor (4 September) had destroyed the last hope of the Royalists,
+and Bonaparte’s victorious army was still in Venetia ready to march
+on Vienna, so nothing remained except to conclude peace. The final
+treaty was signed on the 17 October: it bore the name of the Peace of
+Campo-Formio from a village situated halfway between Passeriano and
+Udine.
+
+On the second day of November Napoleon and Joséphine were again back at
+Milan. Leaving his wife there, Bonaparte started two weeks later for
+Rastadt, travelling by way of Geneva, where he stopped for a day. He
+was accompanied by his aides de camp, Duroc, Lavalette and Marmont; his
+secretary, Bourrienne, and his physician, Yvan.
+
+On the 25 November Bonaparte reached Rastadt, where he remained only
+long enough to exchange with the Austrian plenipotentiaries the
+ratification of the Treaty of Campo-Formio, and then left for Paris. He
+arrived home on the 5 December, and took up his residence in the little
+hôtel in the Rue Chantereine, from which he had set out twenty-one
+months before an obscure man, to which he returned as a celebrity. On
+the 29 December, by decree of the department of the Seine, the Rue
+Chantereine was changed in his honor to Rue de la Victoire.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER EIGHT
+
+ 1798–1799
+
+ THE PURCHASE OF MALMAISON
+
+ Joséphine Returns to Paris--The Talleyrand Fête--Purchase of the
+ Hôtel Chantereine--Bonaparte’s Tour of Inspection--His Sudden
+ Return--Napoleon’s Fortune--He Leaves for Toulon--The Fleet
+ Sails--Joséphine at Plombières--She Buys Malmaison--Fortunes of
+ the Bonapartes--Joséphine’s Indiscretions--Napoleon Hears the
+ Reports--His Liaison with Madame Fourès
+
+
+Joséphine finally reached Paris upon the second day of January. She
+took nearly six weeks for the journey, and did not seem to be in as
+great haste as she claimed in her letters, to leave that tiresome
+Italy, and see her beloved daughter again. After a visit to Turin, she
+crossed Mont-Cenis in terrible weather, and stopped several days at
+Lyon. The fête to Bonaparte, planned by Talleyrand, had to be put off
+from day to day, as the general wished his wife to be present.
+
+Aside from the necessary calls on the Directors and ministers, during
+the month after his return Napoleon made only a few appearances in
+public. On the 10 December he attended the fête given in his honor by
+the Directors at the Luxembourg. Another evening he was present during
+one act of a play at the Français. The rest of the time he deliberately
+stayed at home and refused to receive the applause of the people which
+greeted him on every appearance.
+
+The day after the arrival of Joséphine it was necessary for him to
+issue from his retirement to attend the fête arranged by Talleyrand.
+The Minister of Foreign Affairs then occupied the luxurious Hôtel
+Gallifet, in the Rue du Bac, which had been splendidly decorated for
+the occasion. At half past ten Bonaparte appeared, in civilian costume,
+accompanied by his wife, who wore a Greek tunique, with cameos in her
+hair. Somewhat embarrassed by the ovation he received, Napoleon took
+the arm of Arnault and made the tour of the salons. It was during this
+promenade that Madame de Staël forced herself upon his attention, and
+received, in answer to her impertinent questions, the celebrated reply
+which was to make of her his life-long enemy.
+
+“General,” she said, as soon as she had met him, “what woman do you
+love best?”
+
+“My wife.”
+
+“Naturally; but whom do you esteem most?”
+
+“That one who is the best housekeeper.”
+
+“Very true; but who do you think is the first among women?”
+
+“Madame, the one who bears the most children.”
+
+There is little wonder that the conceited Madame de Staël did not love
+Napoleon after this brief passage at arms.
+
+During the supper Bonaparte was seated beside his wife, to whom he was
+most attentive. At one o’clock they left the ball.
+
+On her return from Italy Joséphine had settled again in her little
+hôtel of the Rue de la Victoire, upon which she had ordered extensive
+alterations made, at a cost of over one hundred thousand francs,
+although at the time she still had only a lease. However, on the last
+day of March Bonaparte purchased the property for the sum of 52,000
+francs. The house was soon full to overflowing with the many rare
+paintings and objets d’art which Joséphine had shipped from Italy. This
+was the beginning of the immense collection which later entirely filled
+her château of Malmaison.
+
+In October, before his return from Italy, Bonaparte had been appointed
+general-in-chief of the Army of England. On the 4 February he left
+Paris for a twelve days’ tour of inspection of the Channel ports from
+Calais to Ostende. On his return he reported to the Directory that
+the proposed invasion of England was a most dangerous and difficult
+undertaking, and, as an alternative plan, suggested an eastern
+expedition which would menace the British trade with the Indies. He
+had little difficulty in obtaining the consent of the Directory to the
+new plan, and on the 4 March the Government formally approved of the
+expedition to Egypt.
+
+All the familiars of Joséphine stood in the greatest awe of Napoleon,
+but the moment he was absent the house was filled with the friends of
+the mistress of the mansion. As soon as Bonaparte left for his tour of
+the Channel ports, Joséphine seems to have renewed her intimacy with
+Barras. There is certainly ground for suspicion in the note she hastily
+scribbled to the secretary of the Director on the unexpected return of
+her husband: “Bonaparte arrived to-night. I beg you, my dear Bottot, to
+assure Barras of my regret that I cannot go to dinner with him. Tell
+him not to forget me. You know better than any one my position.”
+
+It was a notorious fact that most of the generals of the Republic
+had not returned to Paris with empty hands, but Bonaparte pretended
+that he was different from the others. Later, at Saint Helena, he
+claimed that on his return from Italy his fortune did not exceed three
+hundred thousand francs, but it seems probable that he had nearer three
+millions. In addition, he had his salary of forty thousand francs as
+general-in-chief, and seven thousand francs a month while head of the
+French legation at Rastadt. During his absence in the East he left
+his funds in the hands of Joseph, as a common purse for the family,
+and it is well known that the Bonapartes did not suffer for lack of
+money while he was away. It is very possible that in his recollections
+Napoleon omitted a zero from his calculations.
+
+On the 3 May 1798 Napoleon and Joséphine, after dining informally with
+Barras at the Luxembourg, went to the Théâtre-Français to see Talma
+in _Macbeth_. That evening the Conqueror of Italy was greeted
+with the same enthusiasm as during the first days of his return. After
+the play they went home, and at midnight set out for Toulon. Besides
+Joséphine, Napoleon had in the carriage with him his secretary,
+Bourrienne, and his aides de camp, Eugène, Duroc and Lavalette. To
+escape the vigilance of the English spies Napoleon had kept his plans
+entirely secret, and even forbade Joséphine to go to Saint-Germain to
+say adieu to Hortense.
+
+Upon their arrival at Toulon, Bonaparte informed Joséphine for the
+first time that he did not intend to take her with him, as he did not
+wish to expose her to the dangers and fatigues of the voyage, and the
+severity of the climate. In vain she pleaded that the voyage had no
+terrors for her after three trips across the Atlantic, and that the
+heat of Egypt could not affect a Creole. To console her, Bonaparte
+finally promised that, as soon as he was well established in Egypt, at
+the end of two months, he would send for her the frigate _Pomone_,
+under the convoy of which she had made her first voyage from Martinique
+to France.
+
+Bonaparte knew that there was no time to be lost in setting sail, but
+the expedition was detained ten days by contrary winds. Although he was
+not then aware of the fact, on the second day of May Nelson had been
+detached from the fleet that was blockading Cadiz, to go in search of
+information regarding the preparations at Toulon. He arrived off that
+port on the 17 May, but was driven back by an adverse wind, and was
+not able to return until ten days after the departure of the French
+expedition. Never was Fortune more favorable to Napoleon! If the French
+fleet had encountered Nelson at any time during the long voyage of six
+weeks it had not more than one chance in a hundred of escaping absolute
+destruction.
+
+The adieux of Bonaparte and Joséphine were very tender. The signal for
+departure was given, and before a strong north-west wind the fleet
+moved out of the port. Bonaparte was on the _Orient_, a vessel of
+one hundred and twenty guns, and from a balcony Joséphine with a glass
+followed her husband as long as the ship was in sight.
+
+After the departure of the expedition Joséphine did not return directly
+to Paris, but went to Plombières in the Vosges to take the waters.
+While there she met with a serious accident: a wooden balcony, upon
+which she was standing with several friends, gave way under them,
+and she fell fourteen feet to the pavement below. Fortunately no
+bones were broken, but she was painfully bruised. Hortense was sent
+for, at the school of Madame Campan, and nursed her mother during the
+convalescence. No sovereign was ever better cared for. Barras received
+the bulletins of her health drawn up by the resident physicians; all
+the authorities of the department called; musicians, brought from
+Epinal, gave her serenades; her rooms were filled with rare flowers.
+
+At Plombières she received the first news of the expedition, from the
+capture of Malta to the occupation of Cairo. She also learned from
+Bonaparte’s letters that she must give up the idea of sailing to rejoin
+him. The fleet of Nelson was in full command of the Mediterranean, and
+all the French ports were closed. The frigate upon which she was to
+have sailed had been captured by an English cruiser in leaving Toulon.
+
+The last of August Joséphine was back in Paris. At this time she
+arranged to purchase the estate of Malmaison. The price is generally
+stated to have been 160,000 francs, “paid in part with her dot, and in
+part with the resources of her husband.” As a matter of fact the deed
+which was passed before a notary of Paris the 21 April 1799 shows that
+the price agreed upon was 225,000 francs, with 37,500 francs additional
+for the furniture, and over 9000 francs for the recording fee.
+Joséphine only paid down in cash the amount of the furniture, 37,500
+francs, with the avails of “diamonds and jewelry belonging to her.” The
+balance was left unsettled.
+
+From the funds deposited by Napoleon with Joseph was drawn the
+money to pay for the princely estates bought about the same time by
+other members of the family. In Italy, Lucien purchased of a Roman
+princess an estate bringing in a revenue of 4000 francs a year; at
+Paris, a hôtel corner of the Rues du Mont-Blanc and de la Victoire;
+near Villers-Cotterets, a fine château, which with the farm of Soucy
+brought in over 17,000 francs a year. Joseph also acquired, at Paris, a
+new hôtel which cost him at the outset over 100,000 francs; and, near
+Senlis, the magnificent estate of Mortefontaine, with a vast park and
+one of the finest English gardens in Europe, for which he paid 258,000
+francs. As the place had been much neglected during the Revolution, he
+was obliged to spend in its restoration another quarter of a million
+the first year. Truly, the modest three hundred thousand francs brought
+back from Italy by Napoleon went a long way!
+
+At the same time Joséphine had much difficulty in obtaining from Joseph
+the payment of the small allowance of forty thousand francs fixed by
+Napoleon, and was very indignant over the way in which he disbursed her
+husband’s money. With her magnificent jewels, her priceless paintings
+and objets d’art, she was actually short of money to meet her current
+bills.
+
+ [Illustration: JOSEPHINE]
+
+In acting as he did, Joseph may have gone beyond his brother’s orders;
+but the conduct of Joséphine since her return from Plombières had
+been anything but exemplary. She was again on very intimate terms
+with Barras, and her liaison with Hippolyte Charles, which had begun
+at Milan, was a matter of public notoriety. At Malmaison this young
+officer ruled almost as lord and master. Did Joséphine think, like
+many others, that Bonaparte would never return from the Orient, or
+did she imagine that Egypt was so far away that he would never hear
+of her conduct? If so, she was mistaken in both suppositions: he was
+to return, to give her a very _mauvais quart d’heure_, and the
+reports were to reach him in Egypt, through an indiscretion on the
+part of Junot. Both Bourrienne and Madame Junot have given us a vivid
+picture of Napoleon’s rage and despair on this occasion. He cried: “I
+would give all the world to know that Junot’s tale is false, so much do
+I love Joséphine. But if she is really guilty, a divorce must separate
+us forever. I will not submit to be the laughing-stock of all the
+imbeciles of Paris. I will write Joseph to have the divorce declared.”
+
+It is absurd to claim, as many historians have done, that Napoleon at
+the time of his marriage was ignorant of Joséphine’s past life. He
+certainly must have known of her relations with Barras, at least; but
+the past did not concern him: all that he asked for was fidelity in
+the future. The nobleness of his character, and his understanding of
+the situation, are clearly shown in the letter he wrote her from Milan
+11 June 1796: “Everything pleased me, even the remembrance of your
+errors and of the afflicting scene which took place two weeks before
+our marriage.” His rights over her heart and mind only date from the
+hour that she accepted his love and freely gave him her hand: the past
+no longer counts. But from that moment she belongs to him, and if she
+deceives him, all is over. If Joséphine had been true to him, without
+doubt Napoleon would have remained faithful in Egypt as he had been in
+Italy.
+
+At Cairo the favorite rendez-vous of the officers was a garden
+modelled upon the Tivoli at Paris, which was kept by an old
+school-friend of Bonaparte at Brienne. Here Napoleon met a very pretty
+young woman with blond hair, a dazzling complexion, and beautiful
+teeth. Her name was Marguerite-Pauline Bellisle, and she was an
+apprentice to a modiste at Carcassonne when she married a young
+lieutenant in the chasseurs à cheval named Fourès. In the midst of
+their honeymoon came the command to embark for Egypt, with stringent
+orders that no wives were to accompany the expedition. Like several
+other devoted wives, the young woman donned one of her husband’s
+uniforms and sailed on the same ship with him.
+
+Either from virtue or calculation, Madame Fourès did not yield to the
+first attack. It required declarations, letters, handsome presents.
+Finally all was arranged.
+
+The middle of December, Fourès received orders to leave for France,
+this time alone, as bearer of letters to the Directory. A mansion
+was hastily furnished, near the general’s palace, and the young lady
+installed there. Unfortunately for the peace of the new _ménage_
+the vessel upon which Fourès took passage was captured by the English,
+who were well informed regarding events at Cairo, and were malicious
+enough to send him back to Egypt. He rushed to Cairo, and made a scene
+with his wife, who promptly secured a divorce.
+
+Napoleon seems to have become very much in love with the little
+Bellisle, or _Bellilote_ as she became known, and went so far as
+to offer to marry her after divorcing Joséphine, provided she gave him
+a child. “Mais quoi! la petite sotte n’en sait pas avoir,” he said with
+humor. When he returned to France he arranged to have her follow him,
+but she in turn was captured by the English. When she finally reached
+Paris it was too late. Napoleon was reconciled with Joséphine, and
+the coup d’état of the 18 Brumaire had made him master of France. The
+Consul refused to see her, but made her a handsome allowance. She was
+afterwards married again, separated from her husband, and lived to the
+good old age of ninety-two years, dying in March 1869 during the last
+year of the Second Empire.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER NINE
+
+ 1799
+
+ THE RETURN OF BONAPARTE
+
+ Bonaparte Leaves Egypt--He Lands in France--Joséphine Fails
+ to Meet Him--Their Reconciliation--His Generous Pardon--He
+ Pays Her Debts--Her Rôle in the Coup d’État--She Invites
+ Gohier to Déjeuner--The Two Days of Brumaire--Bonaparte, First
+ Consul--They Move to the Luxembourg
+
+
+At midnight on Thursday the 22 August 1799 Bonaparte embarked at
+Alexandria on the frigate _Muiron_, which with three other smaller
+ships set sail at five o’clock in the morning. He was accompanied
+by Murat and Lannes, both recently wounded, as well as by Berthier,
+Bessières, Duroc, Lavalette and Marmont. He also took with him Eugène
+de Beauharnais, and his secretary, Bourrienne.
+
+He had the same good fortune as on his outward voyage. The English
+fleet had gone to Cyprus for repairs and he slipped out unmolested.
+Contrary winds forced the little fleet to hug the African coast, and
+they only made three hundred miles in twenty days. The English ships
+cruising between Sicily and Cape Bon were eluded. Then the wind changed
+and better progress was made.
+
+After a voyage of forty days Bonaparte entered the port of Ajaccio on
+the first of October. Here he was detained for a week by adverse winds.
+Finally, on the 7 October, he sailed for France. It was his last visit
+to his native island.
+
+At noon on the 9 October Napoleon landed at Fréjus, and at six o’clock
+started for Paris. His journey was one long ovation. At every city
+through which he passed he was received with transports of enthusiasm.
+After a stop of half a day at Lyon, where he attended the theatre, at
+midnight he again set out, travelling in a post-chaise at great speed,
+not stopping by night or day. He reached Paris at six o’clock on the
+morning of the 16 October and went directly to his hôtel in the Rue de
+la Victoire, where, as upon his return from Italy, he found no one to
+receive him.
+
+Joséphine was dining at the Luxembourg with Gohier, the president of
+the Directory, when the news was received of the unexpected landing
+of Bonaparte at Fréjus. She had almost forgotten that he existed, and
+seemed to think that he would never return. But there was no time now
+for hesitation: she immediately set out to meet her husband, and tell
+her story before he had a chance to see his brothers. She naturally
+took the usual route by Dijon and Mâcon, but Napoleon was travelling
+by way of the Bourbonnais, and she did not meet him. On her return to
+Paris, a few days later, Bonaparte locked his door and refused to see
+her. His brothers had taken advantage of her absence to tell Napoleon
+the story of her conduct, and he was fully resolved upon a divorce. For
+a whole day she knocked in vain, and cried and sobbed before the closed
+door. Finally, at the suggestion of her maid, she sent for Eugène and
+Hortense, who joined their supplications to those of their mother. The
+door at last was unlocked, and Bonaparte appeared with open arms, his
+eyes wet with tears, his face convulsed with the long and terrible
+struggle which he had had with his heart. When his brothers appeared
+the next morning they found that all had been forgiven and forgotten.
+
+Notwithstanding all of Joséphine’s indiscretions Napoleon was wise to
+abandon the idea of a divorce, which would have interfered seriously
+with his plans. He did well to disregard the advice of his family,
+who had always disapproved of his marriage and done their best to
+bring about a rupture. During his absence, in spite of his orders to
+Joséphine not to mingle in public affairs, she had manœuvred like a
+skilled diplomatist, and had well prepared the way for his return.
+Although her relations with Barras had now ceased, she was on very
+cordial terms with her former admirer, as well as with Gohier, the
+new president of the Directory. Her salon was also frequented by
+Talleyrand, Fouché, Cambacérès, and many others whose support was
+essential to the success of his plans. It is possible that without the
+assistance of Joséphine, Napoleon might never have become emperor.
+
+When Napoleon pardoned Joséphine, it was in no half-hearted way--it
+was a pardon generous and complete, an entire wiping out of all her
+errors. He had the remarkable faculty, when his confidence was renewed,
+of no longer remembering: of suppressing in his marvellous memory all
+recollections of faults which he did not wish to punish. Not only did
+he forgive his wife, but, a virtue even rarer, he disdained to punish
+her guilty accomplices, and never stood in the way of their advancement
+in life.
+
+He was equally generous in the payment of the enormous debts contracted
+by Joséphine during his absence. He gave her the money to complete the
+purchase of Malmaison, and settled with the decorators their account of
+over a million francs, which, after a careful scrutiny of the bills,
+he reduced by one-half, for over-charges and articles not actually
+furnished. On the 12 November he also paid over a million francs for
+the national property in the department of the Dyle, which she had
+contracted to purchase. Five years later this estate was to furnish the
+dot for Adèle, the natural daughter of Alexandre de Beauharnais, when
+Joséphine arranged her marriage with a Captain Lecomte.
+
+A husband willing to pardon his wife’s infidelity, and at the same time
+pay over two millions of her debts, is one not often found, and if
+Joséphine was incapable of fully appreciating such generosity, she at
+any rate, up to the time of her divorce, gave no further grounds for
+public scandal. In her own words, she was too much afraid of losing
+“her position.”
+
+During the weeks of preparation for the coup d’état of the 18 Brumaire
+(9 November), Joséphine played an important rôle. In spite of all the
+precautions that were taken it was impossible to prevent rumors from
+reaching the ears of the three Directors who were not in the plot.
+Barras received warnings; also Gohier and Moulin, but they all ignored
+the reports. In order to keep Gohier out of the way on the critical
+day, Bonaparte took advantage of his admiration for Joséphine, to
+have his wife invite the Director to déjeuner. At midnight on the
+17 Brumaire she wrote a short note, and sent it by Eugène to the
+Luxembourg:
+
+ Will not you and your wife, my dear Gohier, come to breakfast
+ with me to-morrow morning at eight o’clock. Do not fail, for
+ there are some very interesting matters which I would like to
+ talk over with you. Adieu, my dear Gohier. Believe me always
+ your sincere friend
+
+ LAPAGERIE-BONAPARTE
+
+But Gohier was alarmed over an invitation for so early an hour in the
+morning, and remained home, sending his wife in his place. While the
+stirring events of the morning were taking place, Joséphine used all of
+her charm to keep Madame Gohier at her house. The wife of the director
+finally succeeded in making her escape; and with some difficulty
+reached the Luxembourg, through the streets thronged with spectators
+and encumbered by the movements of the troops. As a profound secret,
+Joséphine had informed her visitor of the intention of Talleyrand to
+see Barras and demand his resignation. This information led Gohier to
+think that only Barras was to be eliminated, and from that moment he
+made no further efforts to oppose the plans of the conspirators. So
+this little plot did not entirely fail.
+
+Late in the evening Bonaparte returned from the Tuileries to the Rue
+de la Victoire, and gave Joséphine a full account of the events of
+the day. The night passed quietly. Lannes guarded the Tuileries, and
+Moreau, the Luxembourg. The troops occupied all the strategic points
+of the capital. The theatres were crowded, as usual. Without, the rain
+fell in torrents, and the streets were practically deserted.
+
+On Sunday morning, the 19 Brumaire, the air was clear and cool, after
+the storm of the night before. At dawn the troops began their march
+from Paris to Saint-Cloud, where the Councils were to meet at midday.
+The “army of generals” gathered at Bonaparte’s house to receive his
+final orders. He soon appeared upon the steps of the hôtel, in his
+uniform of general, wearing the little hat which was already legendary.
+Entering his carriage, with his aides de camp, he set out for
+Saint-Cloud, escorted by a small detachment of cavalry.
+
+The day was long and tiresome, and for many hours the result was in
+doubt. It finally ended in the dissolution of the Directory, and the
+appointment of three temporary Consuls: Bonaparte, Sieyès and Ducos. It
+was after midnight before all the legislative work was finished, and
+the new Consuls took their oath of office.
+
+“At three in the morning,” writes Bourrienne, “I accompanied Bonaparte
+in his carriage to Paris. Extremely fatigued after so many trials, and
+absorbed in his reflections, he did not utter a single word during
+the journey.... Back in the little house in the Rue de la Victoire he
+kissed Joséphine, who was in bed, and told her all the incidents of the
+day. Then he rested for a few hours, and woke up in the morning, the
+master of Paris and of France.”
+
+The day following the 19 Brumaire, the 11 November by our calendar, was
+a décadi, or Republican day of rest. At ten o’clock in the morning,
+Bonaparte, dressed in civilian costume, left his house, and in a
+carriage, escorted only by six dragoons, proceeded to the Luxembourg,
+to join his two colleagues and set the new government in operation.
+During the course of the day Joséphine also left the little hôtel in
+the Rue de la Victoire, and moved across the Seine. In all but name,
+the “little Creole” was now sovereign of France!
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TEN
+
+ 1800
+
+ THE CONSULAR COURT
+
+ The Luxembourg--Important Rôle of Joséphine--Her Devotion to
+ Napoleon--Secret of Her Power--Her Royalism--Assistance to the
+ Émigrés--Importance to Napoleon’s Policy--Marriage of Caroline
+ and Murat--The Tuileries--Life There--The New Society--Visits to
+ Malmaison--The Château--Napoleon at His Best
+
+
+At the Petit-Luxembourg Napoleon occupied the former apartment of
+Moulin on the ground floor, on the right as you enter from the Rue
+Vaugirard. His cabinet was near a private staircase which led to the
+first floor, where Joséphine was installed in the old quarters of
+Gohier. The dinner was served at five o’clock, and the table was always
+set for twenty persons. Joséphine did the honors with her usual grace.
+If Bonaparte was tired, or absorbed, and refused to talk, no one felt
+neglected. Since the rude shock which she had received on the return of
+Bonaparte, Joséphine had conducted herself with so much tact that she
+had entirely regained her former place in his esteem. She was no longer
+loved with the same blind devotion, but she had become a very important
+element in the new Consular Court. By nature and by experience she was
+admirably adapted to serve her husband’s interests in rallying all
+parties and all factions to the support of the new government. The
+nobles of the old régime who had frequented the hôtel in the Rue
+Chantereine, such as Caulaincourt, Just de Noailles and Ségur, began
+to encounter in her salon at the Luxembourg men of the Revolution like
+Monge, Réal and Cambacérès.
+
+ [Illustration: NAPOLEON, FIRST CONSUL]
+
+No one was received except upon a written invitation, and formal notice
+was served by Bonaparte that the dress, or rather undress, of the
+ladies who frequented the Court of the Directory, would no longer be
+tolerated. In the _Moniteur_ appeared a report worded as follows:
+
+“During the month of December past there was a large assembly at the
+Luxembourg. When every one was in the reception room, Bonaparte ordered
+the servants to make a large fire. He even repeated this order two or
+three times. When some one made the remark that it was impossible to
+put more wood in the fireplace, he said, ‘That will do. I wanted a good
+fire because the cold is excessive, and _these ladies are nearly
+nude_.’” Advice to readers: decency is the order of the day; and
+decency in dress would bring in its train decency in morals.
+
+For their trips to Malmaison, as for every other function in life,
+Joséphine has the rare faculty of being always ready, and ever
+submissive to her husband’s orders. Her hours of rest, of meals, of
+every kind, are arranged so as not to interfere with his work. As soon
+as his task is finished, Joséphine is always ready, at any hour of day
+or night, to eat, to go out, to start on a journey without previous
+notice, in a costume which becomes her, and is suitable for the
+occasion. She has constantly on her lips the same smile, which always
+seems natural, and never forced; her voice is ever soft and soothing,
+with her pretty Creole accent, which pleases the ear, and is like the
+caressing touch of a loving hand. To this man of thirty years, who has
+never known a home, who has always lived in an inn or a tent, she gives
+the delightful experience of a well-ordered and luxurious household, a
+touch of domestic life.
+
+At this time Joséphine has no official rôle to play: she has no
+recognized place in the State; she is present on occasions of ceremony
+only as a distinguished guest, who looks on from window or balcony. She
+makes a point of seeming to exercise no influence over her husband,
+except in deeds of good-will. This is the real secret of her power, and
+she knows it. The day that she even attempted to direct his actions,
+her power would be lost. Bonaparte would tolerate no Pompadour, no
+Marie-Antoinette at his side. As for the rest, he cares little. She can
+have all the money she wants, to pay for her toilettes and her jewels,
+to settle her old debts; but political influence, never! Her indirect
+power, in the form of charity and social duties, receives his entire
+approbation, as it is directed to the same object which he himself is
+striving to attain.
+
+In all her sentiments, Joséphine is a royalist, both from natural
+inclination and from reasons purely personal to herself. She has the
+most tender attachment to the name of the King, and the Ancien Régime.
+The reason is not hard to find. If Bonaparte plays the rôle of Monk
+and recalls the Bourbons, he will have at least the title of duc and
+peer, the dignity of marshal or constable of France, a great position
+at Court, and she will have the assurance of sharing his fortune and of
+never being repudiated. “Indeed,” remarks one of her historians, “how,
+in 1799, only seven years after the fall of the Throne, could Joséphine
+have any other ideas? What was there greater in ancient France, after
+the king--and no one then thought that he could become king, because
+one does not become king--what was there greater than duc and peer,
+maréchal de France? What was there higher than these dignities to
+which, in the most dizzy dream of ambition, a private individual could
+aspire?”
+
+She does not suspect, she cannot imagine, that this new society demands
+a new form of government, that the man who is to accomplish this task
+has appeared on the scene, and that that man is her husband!
+
+Bonaparte is by no means displeased with the royalist sympathies of
+his wife. He wishes to gain time in his negotiations with the rebels
+in the Vendée, to endeavor to rally them to his cause, and enlist them
+in his armies. For this reason he does not wish to break too abruptly
+with the Pretender, who has already made advances to him. He knows that
+the émigrés are only too anxious to return to France and recover at
+least a part of their property. Joséphine is practically the retained
+advocate of the Royalists and the Émigrés, and the favors which she
+solicits, and is accorded, one by one, are not calculated to excite the
+alarm of the purchasers of the national property, or arouse the wrath
+of the Jacobins. “Little by little this immense social force, lost for
+the France of the Revolution, will flow back from every part of Europe
+towards the France of the Consulate, and bring back, with the habits of
+courtesy and elegance, administrators for the departments, magistrates
+for the superior courts, diplomats for the legations, officers for the
+troops, _causeurs_ for the salons, personages for the Court....
+Bonaparte feels that the glory of the past, represented by illustrious
+names, is necessary to the splendor of the future; and to create a
+France worthy of the destiny which he prepares for her, he has need of
+all her children.” Without in the least suspecting the fact, Joséphine
+thus played a most important rôle in that policy of fusion, which was
+one of the greatest principles of Napoleon’s administration, and one
+which specially characterized it.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+On the 20 January 1800, at Mortefontaine was celebrated the marriage,
+by civil forms only, of Caroline Bonaparte and Joachim Murat. According
+to Madame Récamier, Caroline, although not so beautiful as her sister
+Pauline, was very attractive. She strongly possessed the Napoleonic
+type of countenance, and had much intelligence, and a strong will.
+
+Murat, who at that time was only a general of division, was the most
+striking cavalier in the French army. Young, handsome, full of life,
+with his brilliant uniforms, on the field of battle or in a review, he
+attracted universal attention.
+
+Napoleon at first was very much opposed to the match. When Murat was
+sent to Paris after the armistice of Cherasco, he was too attentive to
+the wife of his general-in-chief, and boasted rather indiscreetly of
+his _bonne fortune_. Later he fell in love with Caroline, during
+her visit to Milan, and was accepted by her. To secure the consent of
+Napoleon, they solicited the good offices of Joséphine. What better
+means of convincing Bonaparte that, if Joséphine had ever favored
+Murat’s suit, all was now over? Joséphine warmly espoused his cause,
+with the double object of putting an end to Napoleon’s suspicions, and
+of securing in Murat a strong ally in her constant struggle against the
+enmity of the Bonapartes.
+
+On the occasion of her marriage Caroline received from her brothers
+a dot of forty thousand francs, the same amount that they had given
+to Pauline. In addition she had a trousseau and presents of the value
+of twelve thousand francs. Nearly all the members of the family were
+present at the ceremony, but no mention can be found of the First
+Consul and his wife. The young couple took up their residence in the
+Hôtel de Brionne, near the Tuileries, and continued to be on the
+warmest terms of intimacy with Joséphine.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+After living for three months at the Luxembourg, on the 19 February
+1800 Napoleon moved to the Tuileries, which became his principal place
+of residence during the Consulate and the Empire. He occupied the suite
+of Louis the Fourteenth on the first floor, facing on the Gardens,
+while Joséphine lived below him on the ground floor, in the former
+apartment of Marie-Antoinette.
+
+As at the Luxembourg, life at the Tuileries at first was very simple.
+It was too soon for the appointment of chamberlains and ladies of the
+palace. On the day of the formal entrance of the First Consul to the
+Tuileries, Joséphine, who had preceded him in a private carriage, was
+modestly placed in a window of the Pavilion de Flore, to view the
+ceremony. But two days later, when Bonaparte received the diplomatic
+corps, she had all of the members presented to her, and held a court
+which recalled that of the queens.
+
+During the early days, it was not easy to constitute a new society at
+the Tuileries. Bonaparte himself had had no experience in the world.
+Having passed all his time in the army, he had but few acquaintances
+at Paris, and found it necessary constantly to call upon his colleague
+Lebrun for information regarding persons and things. There would also
+have been a great outcry from the Republicans if he had immediately
+received the personages of the Ancien Régime, the royalists and the
+émigrés. These persons, at first, affected to draw a line between the
+First Consul and his wife. While they did not mount the steps to the
+apartment of Bonaparte on the first floor, they filled the rooms of
+the former Vicomtesse de Beauharnais on the floor below. Each décade,
+the First Consul gave in the Galerie de Diane a grand dinner with two
+hundred _couverts_. As the Russian Princesse Dolgorouki wrote at
+this time: “It was not exactly a Court, but it was no longer a camp.”
+
+ [Illustration: CHÂTEAU OF MALMAISON]
+
+As often as he could lay down the cares of office, generally three
+or four times a month, Bonaparte went to Malmaison for a day’s rest.
+This estate, purchased by Joséphine during his absence in Egypt, had
+become his favorite place of recreation. The château was situated in
+a fine location, near the village of Rueil, on the left bank of the
+Seine, about nine miles from Paris. The building, which has recently
+been restored and presented to the State as a museum of Napoleonic
+souvenirs, consisted then, as now, of three stories, with a plain
+façade, and a tile roof. On the ground floor, at the left of the
+large vestibule, were the dining-room, the council chamber and the
+library; in the other wing, the billiard-room, the boudoir, the salon
+of Joséphine, and the gallery. From the library there was access to the
+garden by a little bridge thrown across the moat which runs along this
+side of the château.
+
+From the billiard-room there was a staircase to the first floor. Here,
+at the right, an antechamber opened into Joséphine’s bedroom, which was
+oval in form, and hung in red. For many years this was their common
+chamber, and here Joséphine drew her last breath while Napoleon was in
+exile at Elba. Two other adjoining rooms, and a bath-room, completed
+the private suite. In the other wing were the rooms occupied by
+Hortense after her marriage. In the middle there was a long corridor,
+from which opened several small rooms, occupied by the aides de camp on
+duty, or invited guests.
+
+Malmaison was for Joséphine what the Petit-Trianon had been for
+Marie-Antoinette. In her time the grounds extended as far as the
+village of Rueil, and were beautifully decorated with exotic trees,
+rare plants, exquisite flowers, and small lakes with their white and
+black swans.
+
+At Malmaison, Napoleon always appeared at his best. The great man
+relaxed, and threw off his cares; he was amiable, familiar, indulgent.
+He took part in the games with the ardor of a youth. He joked, he told
+stories with a spirit which astonished everybody. He was an admirable
+host, affable, spirituel, putting all his guests at their ease. At that
+time he had not yet abandoned his republican simplicity, and adopted
+the tiresome and chilling etiquette of the Imperial Court.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER ELEVEN
+
+ 1800
+
+ THE QUESTION OF HEREDITY
+
+ The Season of 1800 at Paris--Problems of the First
+ Consul--Success of His Administration--His Reception
+ after Marengo--The “Conspiracy of Marengo”--Part Taken by
+ Lucien and Joseph--The Meeting of Auteuil--Alliance of
+ Fouché and Talleyrand--Joseph in Italy--Napoleon Answers
+ the Pretender--Decision to Amend the Constitution--Alarm
+ of Joséphine--The “Parallel”--Disgrace of Lucien--Louis
+ Chosen--Joséphine’s Plan
+
+
+The winter season of 1800 in Paris was very brilliant. On the 26
+January the new Minister of the Interior, Lucien Bonaparte, gave
+a grand ball in honor of his sister Caroline and her husband, at
+the magnificent Hôtel Brissac, Rue de Grenelle, which he occupied
+at the time. Dinners and balls, which recalled the fêtes of the
+_fermiers-généraux_ under the monarchy, were also given by the
+great bankers of the day. All classes of society took part in the
+social whirl, and the dance was never so popular. For a period of ten
+years the Parisians had been deprived of the popular masked balls of
+the Opéra, and their reopening was one of the features of the Carnival.
+
+But while Paris danced and played the First Consul was occupied with
+very serious problems. The internal affairs of France were in very bad
+shape: the treasury was empty; civil war still raged in the Vendée; the
+soldiers were ill-fed and ill-clad; and the armies were demoralized
+from frequent defeats. The foreign situation was equally discouraging.
+The English Government had declined his pacific overtures, and with
+Austria it was clear that there was no chance of peace except through
+victory.
+
+During the winter the energy and activity of Bonaparte were everywhere
+in evidence, and the sudden resurrection of France at this time is one
+of the most remarkable events in modern history. “Instantly, as if by
+enchantment,” writes the English historian, Alison, “everything was
+changed; order reappeared out of chaos, talent emerged from obscurity,
+vigor arose out of the elements of weakness. The arsenals were filled,
+the veterans crowded to their eagles, the conscripts joyfully repaired
+to the frontier. La Vendée was pacified, the exchequer began to
+overflow. In little more than six months after Napoleon’s accession,
+the Austrians were forced to seek refuge under the cannon of Ulm, Italy
+was regained, unanimity and enthusiasm prevailed among the people,
+and the revived energy of the nation was launched into a career of
+conquest.”
+
+On the 6 May, Bonaparte left Paris for Italy; two weeks later he
+crossed the Grand-Saint-Bernard; on the second day of June he entered
+Milan; on the fourteenth he decisively defeated the Austrians at
+Marengo, and at one stroke regained nearly all of the territory in
+northern Italy which had been lost during his absence in Egypt.
+
+On his return to France, Napoleon received a perfect ovation at every
+stage of his journey. When he entered Paris the night of the second
+of July, after an absence of less than two months, the enthusiasm was
+indescribable. An innumerable crowd gathered in the Tuileries Gardens
+to cheer him, and he expressed his pleasure to Bourrienne by saying:
+“The noise of these acclamations is as sweet to me as the sound of the
+voice of Joséphine!” Twenty years later, on the rock of Saint Helena,
+he spoke of this as one of the happiest days of his life.
+
+During Napoleon’s absence occurred the so-called “Conspiracy of
+Marengo,” the details of which are little known. While he was still
+engaged in putting down the civil war at home, and repelling the
+foreign invaders from the frontiers of France, his brothers Joseph
+and Lucien had already begun the struggle for the supreme power in
+the event of his death. The question of heredity, which was to be the
+source of his greatest troubles, and one of the causes of his final
+downfall, had already been raised, before his supreme power was even
+definitely established.
+
+As early as the month of February, Lucien was exchanging views with
+Bernadotte, who, during the Consulate and the Empire, never lived a day
+without plotting to overthrow Napoleon. A month before the departure
+of the First Consul for Italy, in his cabinet at the Tuileries,
+Fouché, regarding Lucien with his terrible eyes, exclaimed: “I will
+have the Minister of the Interior himself arrested, if I learn that
+he is conspiring!” A contemporary who endeavors to find excuses for
+Lucien, and to defend him from the charge of conspiracy, is forced to
+admit that: “The political immorality, the civil dishonesty of his
+administration; the disgraceful peculations, the insatiable cupidity of
+the agents by whom he was surrounded, did much to injure his brother’s
+government.”
+
+Joseph, for his part, acted much more discreetly, but he let his
+brother know that he wished to be designated as his successor. Nothing
+in the new Constitution gave this power to the First Consul, who had
+been elected for ten years, and was reëligible. With his childish
+vanity, Joseph could see no reason why he should not be as acceptable
+to the French nation as the conqueror of Italy and Egypt, and thought
+that it only needed a word from Napoleon to amend in his favor a
+Constitution adopted by the practically unanimous vote of three million
+citizens!
+
+In a conversation with the First Consul, the day before his departure
+for Italy, Joseph seems to have raised for the first time the question
+of the Consular heredity, and he showed his hand more clearly in a
+letter written on the 24 May. In all Corsicans there is a strong
+sentiment of the clan, from which Napoleon himself was not exempt.
+Joseph felt that, as the eldest, he was the chief of the clan, the head
+of the family; therefore, it was not a favor which he solicited: it was
+a right which he claimed.
+
+But he did not rely entirely upon the support of Napoleon to gain his
+point. Upon the suggestion of his friend Miot, a council was held at
+Auteuil, at which were present nearly all the leading members of the
+former Assemblies. The possibility of the death of Bonaparte, and the
+question of his successor, were discussed; but the name of Joseph was
+not even mentioned. After wavering between La Fayette and Carnot, they
+decided in favor of the “organizer of victory,” whom Napoleon had
+recalled from exile and made Minister of War.
+
+At this same time an alliance was formed between Talleyrand and
+Fouché, which was to bear its full fruit fourteen years later, when
+these two arch-conspirators and under-handed enemies of Napoleon were
+to precipitate his fall and bring back the Bourbons. At this time,
+however, their plans only contemplated the formation of a triumvirate,
+consisting of themselves and one accommodating colleague.
+
+Lucien was not involved in any of these later schemes. On the 14 May,
+he lost his wife; and for at least ten days he retired to his country
+estate, abandoning entirely the direction of his department.
+
+In the meantime, Joseph was so anxious to obtain an immediate response
+from his brother that he could not remain quietly at Paris, and set out
+for Italy. When he arrived at Milan, the victory of Marengo had settled
+the whole question. Napoleon was now the absolute master of France, and
+the decision of the matter was entirely in his own hands. He was fully
+informed of the plots and counter-plots, but chose to ignore them all.
+The only outcome was that Carnot lost his portfolio.
+
+Leaving for Italy in the costume of the Institute, on his return
+Napoleon presides over the Council of State in the uniform of general.
+It is only after Marengo that he feels his place secure as head of the
+State. It was not until the 7 September that he finally and definitely
+replied to the proposals of the Pretender:
+
+“I have received, sir, your letter; I thank you for the polite things
+you say to me. You can not hope to return to France; it would be
+necessary for you to march over five hundred thousand dead bodies.
+Sacrifice your interests to the repose and happiness of France.
+History will give you credit for your action.”
+
+The “Conspiracy of Marengo” is interesting because it marks the first
+grouping of factions which on several occasions were again to come
+to the front during the Empire; and because it reveals the principal
+weakness of Napoleon’s personal régime. These plots convinced him
+of the necessity of providing for the Consular succession. The new
+Constitution, perhaps intentionally, had left the matter in very vague
+shape. For the first time Napoleon now fully realized the necessity
+of facing this question of heredity, so important to himself, to his
+brothers, and, above all, to Joséphine.
+
+Napoleon, at the age of thirty-one, could not abandon the hope of an
+heir--hence the constant menace of divorce for Joséphine, who, after
+four years of marriage, could hardly expect to bear another child. Her
+hope also of a restoration of the Bourbons had now been extinguished
+by the action of her husband. In this dilemma she naturally sought the
+support of such former Jacobins as Fouché and Réal, who were opposed to
+the extension of the powers of the First Consul, and above all to the
+designation of his successor.
+
+As for Napoleon’s brothers, they felt that there could be no question
+of their _rights_ to the succession. One would think, as Napoleon
+once expressed it, that he, as the younger brother, had usurped the
+place and the rights of Joseph, as successor to their father the late
+king! They were also so convinced that it was impossible for Napoleon
+himself to have any children, that they could not conceive of his
+repudiating Joséphine, and marrying a younger woman in the hope of
+having an heir.
+
+Lucien apparently recognized the rights of Joseph, as the elder, and
+was willing to await his turn as heir presumptive, especially as his
+brother had no children. The two brothers therefore sought, each in his
+own way, to secure the adoption of the principle of designation, after
+which each one hoped to be chosen.
+
+With the death of his charming wife, Catherine Boyer, who,
+notwithstanding her common origin, had finished by gaining the love of
+all the family, as well as the general esteem of society, Lucien had
+more and more neglected his official duties, and plunged into all kinds
+of dissipation. Napoleon was obliged to call him to account, and there
+were several unpleasant scenes between the brothers.
+
+Matters were finally brought to a head by the publication of the famous
+“Parallel.” One morning, towards the end of October, Fouché entered the
+cabinet of the First Consul and handed him a little pamphlet entitled
+_Parallèle entre César, Cromwell et Bonaparte_. Two paragraphs
+were specially marked, which suggested the idea of heredity and pushed
+the candidacy of the brothers of the Consul.
+
+This brochure, written by Lucien, although he denied it, and widely
+distributed under the frank of the Minister of the Interior, had caused
+a great sensation in all the departments. Lucien is summoned from his
+country place, Plessis, and there is a violent scene between him and
+Fouché in the presence of the First Consul. Napoleon remains a passive
+spectator of the discussion. Joséphine enters the room and takes part.
+She seats herself upon Napoleon’s knees, and runs her fingers gently
+through his hair and over his face. “I beg you, Bonaparte,” she says,
+“do not make yourself a king. It is this wretch Lucien who urges you to
+it; do not listen to him.”
+
+With much regret, Napoleon asked for Lucien’s resignation, and to cover
+his disgrace sent him as ambassador to Madrid, with an enormous salary.
+
+This exile in disguise of Lucien is not all that Joséphine gains from
+the publication of the Parallel and the opportune intervention of
+Fouché. Napoleon is now fully convinced of the necessity of adopting
+the principle of the right of designation, but the choice of the
+individual presents many difficulties. He puts aside Joseph, a most
+worthy man, but with no application, and no capacity for public
+affairs. Lucien is now out of the question. For a moment he thinks of
+Eugène de Beauharnais, who would have been the best choice of all, but
+decides that he is too young and inexperienced. The next day he makes
+his decision. “It is not necessary,” he says, “to cudgel our brains to
+find a successor. I have found one: it is Louis. He has all of the good
+qualities, and none of the faults of his brothers.”
+
+Joséphine was delighted when Napoleon informed her of his choice, in
+which, unconsciously, he may have been influenced by his wife. “Louis
+has an excellent heart, a very superior mind,” she said. “He loves
+Bonaparte as a lover loves his mistress.”
+
+From that moment her plan was settled: Louis _must_ marry
+Hortense!
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWELVE
+
+ 1800–1802
+
+ MARRIAGE OF HORTENSE
+
+ Louis Bonaparte--His Early Years--Change in His Character--His
+ Life in Paris--He Avoids Marriage--Hortense de Beauharnais--Her
+ Appearance and Character--Love of Her Mother--Pride
+ in Her Father--Early Dislike of Bonaparte--Fancy for
+ Duroc--The Infernal Machine--Narrow Escapes of Napoleon and
+ Joséphine--Public Demand for an Heir--Josephine’s Dismay--Louis
+ Goes to Spain--Joséphine’s Visit to Plombières--Return of
+ Louis--His Marriage to Hortense
+
+
+Louis Bonaparte, who was born on the 2 September 1778, was nine years
+younger than Napoleon, who regarded him very much in the light of an
+adopted son. In February 1791, when Napoleon returned from his home
+in Corsica to his regiment at Auxonne, after an absence of nearly
+seventeen months, he brought with him his favorite younger brother. On
+his meagre pay of one hundred francs a month he had undertaken this
+care in order to relieve to some extent the financial difficulties
+of his widowed mother. In his shabby little room, with its sparse
+furniture, there was no place for Louis, and he slept on a mattress in
+an adjoining cabinet. Napoleon himself prepared their frugal meals. He
+gave his brother lessons in mathematics and generally supervised his
+education. At a later date he complained of his brother’s ingratitude,
+and reminded him that for his sake he had deprived himself even of the
+necessaries of life. The blindness of Napoleon to the faults of his
+brothers and sisters is almost the only weak point in his character, as
+it also reveals one of the most attractive sides of his heart. He never
+could do too much for his family, who, almost without exception, repaid
+him with the basest ingratitude. They all seemed to think that their
+good fortune was due entirely to their own merits, and not at all to
+the senseless partiality of their great brother.
+
+In 1795, Napoleon procured for Louis admission to the military
+school at Châlons. At this time he wrote in the warmest terms of his
+brother’s fine qualities of heart and mind. The following year Louis,
+who was then only eighteen years of age, was one of Napoleon’s aides
+de camp in Italy. He was his messmate, his private secretary, his
+man of confidence. At this time Louis was splendid company--always
+full of life and spirits. At Milan, he contracted a disease which
+in a short time not only affected his health, but seemed to change
+his moral character. For the rest of his life he was a regular
+hypochondriac--constantly worrying about his health and persuaded that
+he was doomed to an early death.
+
+During the Egyptian expedition, Louis again acted as aide de camp to
+his brother, but was sent back to France with despatches some time
+before the return of Napoleon. In January 1800, when only twenty-two
+years of age, he was appointed chief of brigade. He then took up
+his residence in Paris, where he associated with men of letters and
+occupied himself with everything except his military career. He took
+no part in the Marengo campaign, during which he remained at Paris,
+occupied with his literary pursuits. None of his friends seemed to
+understand the radical change in his character. Napoleon thought that
+a journey might rouse him from his melancholy, and proposed a trip to
+Germany, which Louis eagerly accepted, “to escape,” he said later, “the
+solicitations for his marriage with Hortense.”
+
+It is impossible, however, for us to believe that Hortense was so
+disagreeable, or the plans of Joséphine so objectionable to him at this
+time as he tries to make out in his _Reflections upon the government
+of Holland_, drawn up twenty years later. Even if Joséphine, as
+early as August 1800, had formed in her secret heart the project which
+she carried out a year later, she certainly had not made any moves
+which could arouse in Louis the apprehension that she had designs upon
+his independence.
+
+At that time Hortense was only seventeen years of age. She was not
+very pretty, but was singularly attractive from the beauty of her form
+and the grace of her movements. Her nose was large and her mouth ugly,
+with her mother’s poor teeth, but her blond hair and soft violet eyes
+gave to her face an expression of exquisite tenderness: the _tout
+ensemble_ was one which attracted and fascinated everybody. She had
+been educated at the fashionable school of Madame Campan and possessed
+all the accomplishments of a young lady of good family. She sang and
+danced well, she played the harp and the piano, she embroidered, she
+excelled in all the little tasks of the salon, she was quite literary
+in her tastes. She was a fine equestrian, and took a leading part in
+the sports and pastimes of the château life. In character, she was very
+sweet and amiable, but became very obstinate when she was crossed. Her
+finest trait was her life-long adoration of her mother, which, it must
+be confessed, Joséphine had done little to deserve.
+
+After their return from Martinique, her mother had placed her at the
+age of seven in a convent; when that was closed during the Revolution,
+she was apprenticed to a sempstress. Later she was practically
+abandoned for four years by her mother in the school at Saint-Germain.
+On the few rare occasions that Joséphine visited the school she was
+prodigal in her demonstrations of affection, with her kisses which cost
+her so little, for this mother was “coquette even with her children.”
+Hortense regarded her mother as a wonderful being, and returned
+her affection a hundred fold. In her innocence she knew nothing of
+her mother’s worldly life, of her struggle for existence, of the
+connections she formed, either from taste or necessity.
+
+She knew that her father was the Vicomte de Beauharnais, a handsome
+cavalier, who attended the Queen’s balls, was president of the
+Constituent Assembly, general-in-chief of the Army of the Rhine, and
+guillotined under the Terror. Her conception of her father’s career was
+similar to that which we find in many of the histories, and equally far
+from the truth. She was proud of her name, one of the finest in France,
+and also of her mother, whom she considered worthy of her father.
+
+Hortense had therefore been much chagrined when her mother married
+an obscure Republican general, of doubtful nobility, who had been
+absolutely unknown before the Revolution. She had only seen him once
+before the marriage, at a dinner given by Barras at the Luxembourg in
+January 1796. Hortense, who was then not quite thirteen, had been
+taken from school for the occasion. She was jealous of the attentions
+to her mother of the little general, whose name she did not even know.
+She said: “He talked with great vivacity, and seemed only interested in
+my mother.”
+
+She next saw Bonaparte, for a few days only, on his return from Italy,
+and then again at the painful scene in the Rue de la Victoire, when she
+implored him to pardon her mother, without very clearly understanding
+what her mother had done. Under all the circumstances, would it not be
+strange if she had any love for her step-father?
+
+Like most young girls, Hortense had a very sentimental side to her
+nature. She wished to marry for love, and to find love in her marriage.
+It has often been said that Duroc, the favorite aide de camp of
+Napoleon, loved her, and that she reciprocated his affection. The First
+Consul had thought of him for one of his sisters: he certainly would
+have accepted him for his step-daughter. Duroc was a gentleman--perhaps
+not of an illustrious family, but of better birth certainly than
+Bacciochi, Leclerc, or Murat. But Duroc was sent on a diplomatic
+mission to Berlin, and nothing came of this incipient love affair.
+
+With her usual selfishness, Joséphine, in considering the _partis_
+who presented themselves, never thought of the happiness of her
+daughter, but only of her own personal interests. But this was usual
+in those days. Her aunt, Madame Renaudin, certainly had not thought of
+Joséphine’s happiness when she married her to Alexandre de Beauharnais.
+
+Even if Joséphine had not already made up her mind to bring about the
+marriage of Louis and Hortense, she would have been decided by the
+attempt to assassinate the First Consul on Christmas eve 1800. The
+conspirators knew that he expected to be present at the Opéra that
+evening to hear the new oratorio of _The Creation_, by Haydn, the
+most popular composer of the day. They expected that his carriage would
+take the usual route by the Rue Saint-Nicaise, which is no longer in
+existence. This was a long narrow street bordering the Carrousel and
+running from the Seine to the Rue Saint-Honoré, where it ended near the
+Rue Richelieu in which the Opéra was then situated. In this street an
+infernal machine, installed in a one-horse cart, was placed at a point
+which Bonaparte’s carriage would pass, and the time that it would take
+him to come from the Tuileries was carefully calculated so that the
+machine would explode at the right moment.
+
+After dinner, Napoleon, who was fatigued from a hard day’s work, had
+fallen asleep on a sofa, and was with difficulty aroused and persuaded
+to start by the ladies of the Tuileries, Joséphine, Caroline and
+Hortense, who did not wish to miss the performance. At eight o’clock
+he set out, accompanied by Lannes, Bessières and an aide de camp, and
+followed by a small escort of mounted grenadiers. The coachman, who had
+already begun his Christmas celebration, was half-drunk, and drove at
+a furious rate. This fact alone saved Bonaparte’s life. The carriage
+passed the infernal machine, and had just rounded the corner into the
+Rue Richelieu when the explosion occurred. Lannes and Bessières wished
+to stop, but Bonaparte ordered the coachman to proceed. A minute later
+he entered the _loge_ with his usual calm face, and demanded a
+copy of the libretto.
+
+The life of Joséphine was also saved by an incident equally trivial.
+She was wearing that evening for the first time a magnificent Oriental
+shawl presented to Bonaparte by the Sultan. Rapp, the aide de camp on
+duty, who was to escort the ladies, ventured to remark to Joséphine
+that she had not arranged the shawl with her usual grace. At her
+request he showed her how the shawl was draped by the Egyptian ladies.
+The party then descended the staircase of the Pavillion de Flore,
+and entered their carriage. They traversed the Carrousel, and had
+just turned into the Rue Saint-Nicaise when the machine exploded. The
+windows of the carriage were shattered and the arm of Hortense was
+slightly cut by a piece of glass. Rapp descended to see if the First
+Consul had been injured, and the carriage continued its way by another
+street. When the three ladies entered the box, Napoleon greeted them
+with a smile, as if nothing unusual had happened.
+
+The news of this dastardly outrage, in which over fifteen people
+lost their lives, soon spread through the hall, and the oratorio was
+interrupted while the audience arose and frantically applauded the
+First Consul. A few minutes later the party left the Opéra and returned
+to the Tuileries, where Bonaparte received the reports of the police
+and the congratulations of his ministers.
+
+This attempt on Napoleon’s life was a terrible shock to Joséphine: it
+gave new impetus to the public demand for an heir to the First Consul,
+as necessary to the security of the State; and this for Joséphine
+aroused again the dreaded spectre of the divorce.
+
+This conspiracy, following so closely on that of Aréna only two months
+before, which the police had discovered in time, convinced everybody
+that it was desirable to give the First Consul the right to designate
+his successor, and thus assure the heredity of the Consulate, or at
+least the continued existence of the government as established by him.
+It was no longer an academic question, to be debated and postponed from
+time to time, but an actual, urgent public necessity, which demanded
+immediate action. Joséphine realized that the crisis had come, and was
+more determined than ever to carry out her plan for the union of Louis
+and Hortense. If she herself could not give Napoleon an heir, he might
+find one in her grandchild and his nephew, the son of his favorite
+brother. Although Joséphine did not live to see her dream come true,
+all of Napoleon’s plans came to naught, and it was the son of Louis and
+Hortense who occupied the Imperial throne as Napoleon the Third.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Louis was already tired of his tour of Germany, and asked permission of
+his brother to return to Paris. No sooner was he back than the strange
+idea possessed him of buying a country place, where he went to bury
+himself in mid-winter. The house which he purchased was a simple rural
+mansion, in the woods, a league from the highway, about midway between
+Mortefontaine and Plessis, the country estates of Joseph and Lucien.
+
+He had hardly taken possession of his new home, and begun some
+alterations, when he again became uneasy, and set out for Bordeaux to
+rejoin his regiment, which at his request had been included in the
+army of observation under the command of Leclerc which was going to
+Portugal.
+
+In July 1801, Joséphine, who had not yet entirely abandoned all hope,
+went again to Plombières to take the waters, which the year before had
+succeeded so well in the case of Madame Joseph that, after seven years
+of marriage, she was just on the point of presenting her husband with
+their first child. A month later Joséphine returned to Malmaison to
+await in vain the miraculous effects of her _cure_.
+
+At the end of three months Louis was tired of his military duties, and
+asked for a leave of absence. After spending several weeks at the baths
+of Barèges, to cure his rheumatism, at the end of September he came to
+Malmaison for a visit. There he fell in love with Hortense, and finally
+decided upon the marriage which he had previously dreaded.
+
+There is absolutely no truth in the statements so often made by Louis
+in after years that the marriage was forced upon him. Three months
+elapsed between his return and the ceremony. During this period Louis
+showed himself very devoted to Hortense, while she seemed resigned to
+her lot. On the 3 January 1802 the contract was signed at the Tuileries
+in the presence of the whole family, and the following day the civil
+marriage took place, followed the same evening by a religious ceremony
+at the hôtel in the Rue de la Victoire.
+
+The nuptial benediction was pronounced by Cardinal Caprara, who was
+then negotiating the Concordat with the French Government. At the same
+time Caroline and Murat, who had only been united by a civil bond, had
+their marriage blessed by the Church. Joséphine ardently desired the
+same privilege, but Napoleon absolutely refused, either from reasons of
+public policy or in order to keep the way open for a divorce if in the
+future he desired one.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTEEN
+
+ 1802–1803
+
+ THE CONSULATE FOR LIFE
+
+ Bonaparte Made Consul for Life--He Takes Possession of
+ Saint-Cloud--His Apartment in the Château--Court Etiquette
+ Established--Trip to Normandie--Joséphine at Forty--Her Life at
+ Saint-Cloud--A Scene of Jealousy at the Tuileries--Marriage of
+ Pauline and Borghèse--Unfortunate Connection of Lucien--Jérôme
+ Marries Miss Patterson
+
+
+On the second day of August 1802 the Senate declared Napoleon
+Bonaparte Consul for Life, with the power to name his successor. The
+decree conveyed to him, in its official terms, the expression of “the
+confidence, the admiration, and the love of the French people.” In
+the plébiscite he received the votes of over three and a half million
+Frenchmen, with less than nine thousand in the negative.
+
+At the same time the government gave him as a summer residence the
+royal château of Saint-Cloud. This palace was built at the edge of a
+magnificent park, on a long terrace overlooking the Seine, with the
+city of Paris at a distance in the background. The main building and
+the two projecting wings framed the court of honor; in the rear was
+a beautiful French garden, bordered on one side by an extension of
+the palace, and on the other by an alley shaded by magnificent trees.
+The property, which had previously belonged to private parties, was
+purchased by Louis the Fourteenth and presented to his brother
+the Duc d’Orléans. In 1785, Calonne, the prodigal controller of the
+finances, bought the château for six million francs, and the King gave
+it to Marie-Antoinette. She made extensive alterations in the building,
+and frequently resided there before the Revolution. Her last visit was
+in the summer of 1790, at which time she had her celebrated interview
+with Mirabeau. During the Revolution all of the furniture and hangings
+disappeared, and the palace had to be refurnished for the First Consul.
+As soon as the work was completed, Napoleon moved there, on the 20
+September.
+
+ [Illustration: CHÂTEAU OF SAINT-CLOUD]
+
+At Saint-Cloud, Joséphine occupied the apartments of Marie-Antoinette
+in the left wing. The suite of the First Consul was on the ground
+floor in the other wing. His cabinet was a large room, with the walls
+covered with books from floor to ceiling. He usually sat on a small
+sofa, placed near the mantel, which was decorated with two bronze
+busts of Scipio and Hannibal. Behind the sofa, in the corner of the
+room, was the desk of his secretary, Méneval, who had taken the place
+of Bourrienne, discharged for dishonesty. Adjoining the cabinet was a
+small salon, where the First Consul received his ministers and gave
+private audiences. In this salon there was a fine portrait of Gustavus
+Adolphus, the favorite hero of Napoleon. The only ornament of his
+bedroom, which faced on the garden, was an antique bust of Cæsar.
+
+From the first, a rigid court etiquette was established at Saint-Cloud.
+Duroc, who was appointed governor of the palace, had a table for the
+officers, the aides de camp, and the ladies on duty. The First Consul
+took his meals alone with his wife, but gave formal dinners twice a
+week for important officials of the government. The military household
+was composed of the four generals commanding the Consular Guard,
+Lannes, Bessières, Davout and Soult, and the seven aides de camp, among
+whom were Caulaincourt, Rapp and Savary. There were four prefects and
+the same number of ladies of the palace, of whom the best known were
+M. de Rémusat, and his wife, the author of the celebrated memoirs.
+The usages of the Court of Versailles had been copied so closely that
+there was even a serious idea of reviving the custom of powdered hair,
+but Napoleon could not bring himself to this, so hair was worn _au
+naturel_.
+
+For the first time since the Revolution, religious practices were
+renewed; the First Consul insisted that on Sunday every one should go
+to Mass, and the Chapel at Saint-Cloud recalled that at Versailles.
+
+The last of October Napoleon and Joséphine made a fortnight’s trip
+to Normandie. The first day they went over the field of battle where
+Henry the Fourth gained the victory of Ivry. Then they passed a
+week at Rouen, where the First Consul visited all of the principal
+manufactories, and held a review of the National Guard. Another
+week was spent at Havre and Dieppe, inspecting the ports, the
+fortifications, and the ships under construction. On the evening of the
+14 November the party was again back at Saint-Cloud.
+
+The following ten weeks were spent at Saint-Cloud, except one day, the
+first week in December, when the First Consul went to the Tuileries
+to receive the English ambassador, Lord Whitworth, who presented his
+credentials. On the 23 January 1803 Napoleon and Joséphine returned to
+the Tuileries for the winter.
+
+In 1803 Joséphine was forty years of age. Her beauty was somewhat
+faded, but she was so adroit in the use of cosmetics, she dressed with
+so much taste, that with her charm of manner and her air of distinction
+she could still be called a very attractive woman. No sovereign was
+ever more to the manner born. She received so well; she possessed in
+so high a degree the art of saying something appropriate and pleasant
+to every one; she had so much tact, and so much presence of mind, that
+any one would have thought she was born on the steps of a throne. She
+was popular with all parties and all factions. Fouché, who represented
+the element of the Revolution, was her friend, and all the personages
+of the Ancien Régime regarded her as their ally. She had done much good
+in her life, and had never injured anybody; even the severest critics
+of Bonaparte had only words of praise for his wife. All classes of
+society united in rendering her homage. She was not only popular, but
+she deserved her popularity. She was so much loved and admired that
+even the most rigid moralists had no words of reproach for her past
+indiscretions.
+
+No woman ever justified better than Joséphine the saying that the eyes
+are the mirror of the soul. Her own, of a deep blue color, were almost
+always half-closed by her long eyelids fringed with the most beautiful
+eyelashes in the world; and her glance was absolutely irresistible.
+Another of her great charms was her voice, which was soft and musical,
+with the slightest Creole accent. She read well, and loved to read
+aloud. Napoleon preferred her to all other readers.
+
+All who knew Joséphine unite in speaking of her kindness. Madame de
+Rémusat says: “She had a remarkable evenness of temper, much good-will,
+and the faculty of forgetting any wrong done her.” Constant, the valet
+de chambre of Napoleon, bears the same testimony. “Kindness,” he
+writes, “was as inseparable from her character, as grace was from her
+person; generous to the point of prodigality, she made every one around
+her happy. No woman was ever more loved by those near her, or more
+deserved to be.”
+
+Without having great intelligence, Joséphine possessed the most perfect
+_savoir faire_. She always found, without searching, the exact
+word for the occasion, the expression which touched and charmed, and
+this is better than _esprit_, because it comes, not from the
+head, but the heart. She was also a good listener, a trait both rare
+and remarkable. She never forgot a name or a face, and on meeting some
+one whom she had not seen in years, could always recall some pleasant
+incident connected with him.
+
+As nearly always happens, Joséphine had the defects of her qualities:
+she was generous and charitable to a fault, but she was also prodigal
+to excess. As we shall see later, only the revenues of Imperial France
+could ever have sufficed to pay her debts.
+
+At this time the First Consul and his wife made quite a happy
+household. At Saint-Cloud they always occupied the same chamber.
+About eight o’clock Napoleon arose, and went to his cabinet, where
+he breakfasted alone. Then he began his day’s work, which generally
+occupied him until six o’clock, when he went for a drive with
+Joséphine. They dined together, and he usually remained for a short
+chat afterwards. Then he returned to his cabinet, while Joséphine
+played cards, to finish the evening. Between ten and eleven, a
+chamberlain came to announce, “Madame, the First Consul has retired.”
+Joséphine immediately dismissed her company, and went to rejoin her
+husband.
+
+After their return to the Tuileries this year, Napoleon decided to
+have his own room, separate from his wife. In this connection Madame
+de Rémusat recounts a scene which constitutes one of the strangest
+episodes in her interesting, but not always trustworthy, memoirs. That
+season a new actress, named Mlle. Georges, had made her début. She
+had very little talent, but great beauty, and Napoleon was seduced by
+her charms. Joséphine was informed that the young actress, on several
+evenings, had been secretly conducted to a quiet apartment in the
+Château. One night Joséphine kept Madame de Rémusat later than usual,
+and talked of her grievances. At one o’clock in the morning, they
+were alone in her salon, and the most complete silence reigned over
+the Tuileries. Suddenly Joséphine exclaimed: “I cannot keep quiet any
+longer. Mlle. Georges is certainly upstairs, and I am going to surprise
+them. Follow me; we will go up together.” The lady of the palace
+protested, and tried, but in vain, to turn Joséphine from her purpose.
+They silently ascended the private staircase which led to the suite of
+Napoleon on the first floor. Suddenly they heard a slight noise, and
+stopped in their course. “It may be Roustan, who is guarding the door,”
+said Joséphine. “The wretch is capable of cutting both our throats.”
+Pale with terror, at these words Madame de Rémusat rushed back to the
+salon, carrying the candle which she held in her hand, and leaving
+Joséphine in the dark. She followed, after a few minutes, and burst
+into laughter at the sight of her maid’s discomposed countenance. After
+this they abandoned their enterprise.
+
+Before adopting this change in his habitudes Napoleon one day asked
+Madame de Rémusat if she thought a husband should yield to the caprices
+of a wife who wished always to share his bed. The lady of the palace
+returned an evasive answer. Bonaparte began to laugh, and, pulling
+her ear, a favorite trick of his when in good humor, said: “You are a
+woman, and you are all in league together.”
+
+ * * * * *
+
+A recent biographer tells us that there is a pretty picture of
+Joséphine at this time, as she appeared at the wedding of Napoleon’s
+sister Pauline: “With her short sleeves, bare arms, and her hair
+enclosed in a gilt net, she looked like a Greek statue.” The first
+Consul led her to a mirror, that he might see her on all sides at once,
+and, kissing her shoulder, said: “Ah, Joséphine, I shall be jealous.
+Why are you so beautiful to-day?” It is really a pity to destroy so
+idealistic a picture, but as a matter of fact Napoleon was not present
+at his sister’s wedding.
+
+The first day of January 1803, Pauline returned from the disastrous
+expedition to Saint-Domingue, where her husband, Leclerc, had succumbed
+to the unhealthy climate. She herself was suffering from a grave
+malady, from which she never entirely recovered. For two months after
+her return to Paris, Pauline lived with Joseph at his town house,
+but in April she purchased for four hundred thousand francs the
+magnificent Hôtel Charost in the Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, a few doors
+from Joseph’s Hôtel Marbeuf.
+
+At this same time there arrived in Paris the Prince Camillo Borghèse,
+the chief of one of the richest and most illustrious Roman families.
+At a house party at Mortefontaine in June he was presented to Pauline.
+By this time the young widow, who was not yet twenty-three, had
+somewhat recovered from her real grief over the loss of Leclerc, and
+was tired of wearing mourning, which did not become her style of
+beauty. She was much attracted by the personality of Borghèse, but
+perhaps even more by the idea of being a real princesse, and taking
+the _pas_ over her dear sisters Bacciochi and Murat, as well as
+her sisters-in-law, Joséphine and Hortense. A few days after their
+first meeting, she authorized Joseph to make overtures to the prince.
+The matter was quickly arranged, and on the 21 June Borghèse formally
+announced to Joseph his desire to marry Pauline. He only asked that
+the proposed alliance should remain a secret until he had time to
+obtain his mother’s consent. At the same time Pauline wrote the First
+Consul to ask his approval. The mother of the prince was delighted
+with the alliance, and on the first day of August the engagement was
+announced by the Paris journals. On the 23 August the marriage contract
+was signed, only by Pauline and Borghèse, at the Hôtel Charost. On
+the 14 August, and again a week later, the banns were published at
+Mortefontaine. It was generally anticipated that the marriage would
+take place on the 28 August, but just then a difficulty arose: they had
+forgotten Leclerc! He had died on the second day of November 1802, and
+the social rules, reëstablished and formally promulgated by the First
+Consul himself, forbade a widow to remarry during a period of one year
+and six weeks after the death of her husband. In this dilemma Madame
+Bonaparte, who was as domineering and imperious as her great son, took
+charge of affairs, and ordered the marriage to take place. On the 28
+August, or perhaps four days later, the ceremony was performed at
+Mortefontaine by an Italian priest, who may have been Cardinal Caprara
+himself. The exact date is uncertain, as the certificate was never
+filed.
+
+This “marriage of conscience” was known only to the mother, and two of
+the brothers of the bride, Joseph and Lucien. Napoleon was so ignorant
+of the matter that on the 25 September he gave Pauline a dinner of
+two hundred _converts_ at the Tuileries, and afterwards took her
+to Saint-Cloud to pass several days with him. A month later, the 23
+October, he gave another large dinner to his sister, to which Borghèse
+was invited. Napoleon intended on this occasion to announce formally
+the date of the marriage. He was still ignorant of the fact that a
+religious ceremony had taken place, without a previous civil contract
+as required by law.
+
+The official marriage was finally celebrated at Mortefontaine on the
+6 November, but the First Consul was not present. He had left for
+Boulogne three days before, to inspect the fleet, and did not return
+to Saint-Cloud until after the middle of the month. This absence was
+intentional: Napoleon was enraged at having been thus deceived by his
+favorite sister, by his mother and his brothers, in short, by everybody.
+
+At the wedding there were present all the members of the family except
+Napoleon, and Lucien, who ten days before had secretly contracted
+another alliance, which was to disgrace him with his brother. The
+wedding of Pauline was announced by only two lines in the official
+journal: “Madame Leclerc has married Prince Borghèse; the marriage was
+celebrated at Mortefontaine.” Napoleon pressed the departure of the
+newly married couple, and several days before his return from Boulogne
+they were on their way to Italy.
+
+The marriage of Pauline had wounded the heart of Napoleon, but almost
+at the same time there occurred two other weddings in the family which
+brought other cares; which disturbed the family harmony, and exercised
+a decisive influence on the fortunes of two of the brothers.
+
+In May or June 1802, Lucien had met, while on a visit in the country,
+a young woman with whom he became desperately enamored. Her name was
+Alexandrine de Bleschamp, and at the age of nineteen she had married
+a certain Monsieur Jouberthou. Later she had been abandoned at Paris,
+almost without resources, when her husband sailed for Saint-Domingue
+to try and retrieve his fortunes. A few months later she met Lucien.
+Affairs moved quickly, and in August Madame Jouberthou was installed in
+Lucien’s mansion at Plessis. When he returned to Paris she was lodged
+in a house which communicated by a subterranean passage with Lucien’s
+hôtel in the Rue Saint-Dominique. There, on the 23 May 1803, was born
+a child who was declared before the municipality under the name of
+Jules-Laurence-Lucien. This eldest son of Lucien was subsequently
+legitimized by the marriage of his parents, and he was later called
+Charles after his grandfather. This ceremony, however, was not
+performed until the 23 October 1803, after Lucien had finally succeeded
+in obtaining a certificate of the death of Jouberthou at Port-au-Prince
+the 15 June 1802.
+
+If the affair of Lucien was serious, in the eyes of Napoleon that of
+his youngest brother was worse. In February 1802, Jérôme sailed with
+the French fleet for the West Indies. Born the 15 November 1784, he
+was then only seventeen years of age. Two months later he returned to
+Paris as bearer of despatches from Leclerc. Promoted to the rank of
+ensign, he sailed again on the 18 September for Martinique. Soon tiring
+of his naval career, Jérôme decided to return to France by way of New
+York, and sailed for Virginia on an American pilot boat. He landed at
+Norfolk the 20 July 1803, and a week later he was in Washington. During
+his stay there he met at Baltimore a very attractive girl of about his
+own age, named Elizabeth Patterson, the daughter of a wealthy merchant,
+and on the 24 December they were married. The chargé d’affaires at
+Washington, Pichon, had done everything in his power to prevent the
+marriage. He wrote Mr. Patterson and Jérôme to point out that any
+marriage contracted without the consent of Madame Bonaparte, during
+her lifetime, under the French law would be absolutely null and void.
+Jérôme was too much in love to hesitate, and the young lady and her
+father were willing to take a chance.
+
+When the news reached France, the First Consul sent his brother
+peremptory orders to return, but owing to various causes Jérôme did not
+reach Europe until over a year later.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER FOURTEEN
+
+ 1803–1804
+
+ THE ROYALIST PLOTS
+
+ Rupture of the Peace of Amiens--The Celebrated Scene with the
+ English Ambassador--The Visit to Belgium--An Unfortunate Episode
+ at Mortefontaine--First Suggestions of the Empire--Magnificent
+ Reception at Brussels--The Royalist Conspiracies--Cadoudal and
+ Pichegru Reach Paris--Joséphine’s Pacific Counsels--Petty Vanity
+ of Mme. Moreau--Her Husband’s Jealousy of Bonaparte--Arrest,
+ Trial and Exile of Moreau--Deaths of Pichegru and Cadoudal--The
+ Execution of the Duc d’Enghien
+
+
+On the 27 March 1802, the long war between England and France had
+been ended by the Treaty of Amiens, which was very popular in both
+countries. Unfortunately the peace was to last only a year. On the
+13 March 1803 at the Tuileries occurred the celebrated scene between
+Bonaparte and the English ambassador, which presaged the renewal of the
+struggle.
+
+Once a month the First Consul was accustomed to receive the ambassadors
+and their wives in Joséphine’s apartment. This audience was always a
+very ceremonious affair. The ministers were conducted to a salon, and
+when all were present the First Consul and his wife appeared, followed
+by a prefect and a lady of the palace. After the formal presentations
+had been made, Napoleon and Joséphine carried on a short conversation,
+and then withdrew.
+
+On the present occasion, Madame de Rémusat entered Joséphine’s room
+a few minutes before the hour fixed for the reception. She found
+Bonaparte there, sitting on the floor, and playing gaily with the baby
+Napoleon, the child of Louis and Hortense, who was then only five
+months old. At the same time he amused himself by commenting on the
+toilettes of the two ladies, and giving his advice about their dresses.
+He laughed continuously, and seemed to be in the best possible humor.
+
+In a few minutes he was notified that the ambassadors had all arrived.
+Getting up, his whole expression suddenly changed; the laughter left
+his lips, and his features became very severe. Exclaiming, “Let us
+go, ladies!” he rushed from the room, and entered the salon. Without
+saluting any one, he walked directly to the English minister, and
+immediately began to complain of the measures of his Government. His
+anger seemed to increase from moment to moment, and rose to a point
+which terrified the whole assembly. The harshest words, the most
+violent menaces, issued from his trembling lips. No one dared to
+make a movement, and Joséphine looked on mute with astonishment. The
+phlegmatic Englishman was so disconcerted that he could hardly find a
+word to reply.
+
+Leaving the dumfounded ambassador, Bonaparte spoke to two of the other
+ministers, then returned to Lord Whitworth, and made a few polite
+personal remarks. Suddenly his anger seemed to return. “You are then
+decided on war?” he exclaimed; “we have already had it for ten years;
+you wish to have it for ten years more; and you force me into it....
+Why these armaments? If you arm, I shall arm too. You can perhaps
+destroy France, but intimidate her, never!” At this moment his face was
+red with anger, and he seemed in a paroxysm of fury.
+
+Two months later Lord Whitworth demanded his passports, and the long
+contest was resumed, which was only to end on the field of Waterloo.
+Napoleon immediately began his preparations, and as a preliminary
+to the gigantic struggle decided to visit in state the northern
+departments, and in particular the great port of Antwerp, “that pistol
+pointed at the heart of England.”
+
+The First Consul decided that the journey should be made with the
+greatest magnificence, and that his wife should accompany him, in
+order to make use of her well-known powers of attraction. He had the
+Crown jewels taken out of the safe deposits where they were stored,
+and gave them to Joséphine, who, we may be sure, was not reluctant to
+employ them. Two of the ladies of the palace, Mesdames de Rémusat and
+Talhouet, were chosen to accompany the party, and the First Consul
+gave each of them thirty thousand francs for the expenses of their
+toilettes. On the 24 June 1803 they left Saint-Cloud, with a cortège of
+several carriages, two generals of the Guard, the aides de camp, Duroc,
+and two prefects of the palace, of whom M. de Rémusat was one.
+
+The first night was passed at the country home of Joseph,
+Mortefontaine, where nearly the whole Bonaparte family was reunited.
+Here a very unpleasant scene occurred. Just before dinner, Joseph
+notified Napoleon that he intended to take in their mother, and place
+her at his right hand, with Joséphine at his left. The First Consul
+was offended at this arrangement, which put his wife in second place,
+but Joseph refused to yield. When the dinner was announced, Napoleon
+gave his arm to Joséphine, entered unceremoniously before every one,
+and placed her by his side. The whole party was so disarranged that
+poor meek Madame Joseph found herself at the foot of the table, as if
+she did not belong to the family. During the dinner Napoleon occupied
+himself exclusively with his wife, and did not address a word to any
+one else.
+
+The second night was passed at Amiens, where the First Consul was
+received with enthusiasm impossible to describe. The people detached
+the horses and drew the carriage themselves. Joséphine was moved to
+tears by the cries of joy, the garlands of flowers which crowned the
+route, the triumphal arches erected in honor of the restorer of France,
+the benedictions which were too general not to have been absolutely
+spontaneous.
+
+In several of the cities of Flanders the mayors in their addresses
+ventured to suggest that the First Consul should replace his precarious
+title by one more in accord with the high destiny to which he was
+called. Bonaparte could hardly conceal his pleasure at these words, but
+interrupted the orator to say in a tone of assumed anger that he could
+not think of changing the Republic: like Cæsar he rejected the crown
+which nevertheless he was not reluctant to have presented to him.
+
+After these receptions the First Consul usually mounted his horse,
+and showed himself to the people, who received him with cheers;
+then he visited the public buildings and the manufactories, in his
+usual hurried manner. In the evening he attended the dinner offered
+him, which was the most tiresome part of his day’s work, for, as he
+expressed it: “I am not made for pleasure.”
+
+Everywhere in old France the party was received with the same
+enthusiasm, but in Flanders there was not so much warmth. On arriving
+at Antwerp the First Consul showed great interest in this important
+port, and gave orders for the great works which were afterwards carried
+out.
+
+The entry into Brussels was magnificent. At the gate of the city,
+the First Consul was received by several regiments of troops; he
+mounted his horse, and Joséphine found a superb carriage placed at her
+disposal. The whole city was decorated; the artillery fired salutes;
+all the church bells were rung; the streets were thronged by the
+people; and the July day was perfect. During the week there was a
+succession of fêtes. It was on one of these occasions that Talleyrand
+replied in a manner so adroit and so flattering to a sudden question of
+Bonaparte, who demanded how he had made his large fortune so quickly.
+“Nothing easier,” replied the minister, “I bought government securities
+on the day before the 18 Brumaire, and sold them the day after!”
+
+From Brussels the party returned by way of Liège and Sedan to
+Saint-Cloud, where they arrived on the 11 August after an absence of
+seven weeks. Joséphine was delighted with this trip, during which she
+left everywhere recollections of her charm and grace, which were never
+to be effaced.
+
+This triumphal progress of Bonaparte through the northern departments
+excited to the highest degree the rage of the Royalists, and plots were
+immediately formed for his removal. The heads of this conspiracy were
+the Chouan leader, Georges Cadoudal, and the former Republican general,
+Pichegru. Moreau, the victor of Hohenlinden, considered by many as the
+second soldier of France, was also gravely implicated.
+
+Not far from Dieppe there is a cliff two hundred and fifty feet high:
+this was the point where Cadoudal entered France on the night of the
+22 August 1803. It was a place well known to smugglers, who nightly
+climbed the rock with the aid of a ship cable hung from the top. By
+the same route Pichegru and several other conspirators arrived several
+weeks later. Walking by night, and hiding by day, they all eventually
+arrived at Paris, where under different disguises they eluded for a
+long time the vigilance of the police.
+
+On a dark night in January Pichegru had an interview with Moreau on
+the Boulevard de la Madeleine. The two generals had not met since the
+days that on the borders of the Rhine they were gloriously fighting the
+battles of France. The meeting was not entirely harmonious, and the
+Comte d’Artois was deceived by false reports when he exclaimed with
+joy: “Now that our two generals are in accord I shall soon be back in
+France!”
+
+During this time Bonaparte was far more nervous and uneasy than on
+the field of battle, where he always displayed the greatest calm.
+He directed the movements of the secret police and stimulated their
+zeal. In the midst of these hidden perils Joséphine showed great
+courage. With her usual kindness of heart, she urged her irritated
+husband not to confound the innocent with the guilty, and not to hold
+the whole royalist party responsible for the acts of a few fanatics.
+Unfortunately Napoleon did not listen to these wise counsels. In the
+state of excitement to which his nerves had been wrought up by the
+renewal of these infamous attempts on his life, he decided on a policy
+of vengeance which should strike terror to the hearts of his foes.
+
+At a special meeting of the Council on the night of the 14 February the
+only subject discussed was the Cadoudal-Pichegru conspiracy, and orders
+were issued for the immediate arrest of Moreau.
+
+When a great crime is under investigation in France the prosecutor
+always enjoins upon the agents of justice: “_Cherchez la femme!_”
+The woman in this case was Madame Moreau. Without the jealousy
+and petty vanity of this woman her husband, instead of meeting an
+ignominious death fighting in the ranks of the enemies of his country,
+would have become like Davout, Masséna and Ney, a duc and prince, a
+maréchal de France.
+
+Moreau had met Bonaparte for the first time after his return from
+Egypt, and the two celebrated generals had become quite friendly. On
+the 18 Brumaire Moreau had taken an active part in the coup d’état.
+Exactly a year later, on the 9 November 1800, he married a Mlle. Hulot,
+who had been a companion of Hortense in the school of Madame Campan.
+Joséphine had contributed much to bring about this match, which she
+thought would be useful to the interests of the First Consul. Ten
+days after the wedding Moreau left Paris to take command of the Army
+of Germany, and on the 3 December 1800 he gained the brilliant victory
+of Hohenlinden, which led to the Peace of Lunéville two months later.
+Shortly after the battle Madame Moreau rejoined her husband in Germany,
+and her pride was increased by the sight of the _éclat_ with which
+he was everywhere received.
+
+On their return to Paris, the _amour-propre_ of Madame Moreau
+was wounded on several occasions by what she considered to be the
+incivility or social slights of the First Consul. Like Joséphine, she
+was the daughter of a Creole, and her mother, who was a sensitive,
+as well as a very vindicative woman, told her that she was younger,
+prettier and better educated than Madame Bonaparte; that her husband
+had commanded as large armies, and rendered as brilliant services to
+the Republic as Bonaparte, and that there was no reason why General and
+Madame Moreau should occupy a second place in the State.
+
+There were only too many persons at Paris, both republicans and
+royalists, who were interested in fanning the flames. The royalists,
+in particular, paid very marked attentions to Madame Moreau, and
+frequented her handsome hôtel in the Rue d’Anjou-Saint-Honoré.
+Bonaparte was exasperated by the petty social war which was waged
+against himself and his wife. He detested the pin-pricks, and feared
+them more than the strokes of a dagger.
+
+Influenced by his wife, Moreau refused an invitation for dinner at
+the Tuileries, and also declined to accompany the First Consul to a
+review. This coldness shortly degenerated into declared enmity. The
+city hôtel of the general and his handsome country place, Grosbois,
+soon became centres of opposition to the Consular government.
+
+When Madame de Rémusat arrived at the Tuileries one February morning
+she found Joséphine much troubled. Napoleon was seated near the
+fireplace playing with the little Napoleon. “Do you know what I have
+done?” he said. “I have just given the order to arrest Moreau.” He
+continued: “Twenty times have I prevented him from compromising
+himself; I have warned him that they would embroil us; and he felt
+that I was right. But he is feeble and proud; the women directed him:
+the parties urged him on.” Thus speaking, Bonaparte arose, went to his
+wife, took her by the chin, and raised her head. “Everybody has not
+a good wife like mine. You are crying, Joséphine, but why? Are you
+afraid?” “No,” replied she, “but I do not like what they will say.”
+Then turning to the lady of the palace, Bonaparte continued: “I have
+no hatred, no desire for vengeance; I have deeply reflected before
+arresting Moreau; I could have closed my eyes, and given him time to
+escape, but people would have said that I was afraid to put him on
+trial. I can convince them that he is guilty; I am the government;
+everything will be easily settled.”
+
+At the trial the evidence against Moreau was not conclusive. He was
+condemned to two years in prison, but was accorded the permission to
+retire to America. In order to furnish him with funds for his exile,
+Napoleon purchased his Paris house for 800,000 francs, much more than
+its real value, and presented it to Bernadotte; also his handsome
+estate of Grosbois, which he gave to Berthier.
+
+Pichegru was finally betrayed by an old companion-in-arms, one of his
+most intimate friends, who came to the police and offered to give him
+up for a hundred thousand crowns. On the last day of February he was
+arrested in Paris, and six weeks later was found strangled in prison.
+His death has often been charged to Napoleon, but without the slightest
+evidence.
+
+On the 9 March, Cadoudal was taken at seven o’clock in the evening in
+the Place de l’Odéon, and was executed the last week in June.
+
+According to the police reports the conspirators had expected the early
+arrival in France of a prince of the royal house. Attention was at
+first directed to the cliff of Béville, near Dieppe, where Cadoudal and
+Pichegru were now known to have entered the country, but the watch was
+in vain. Then the search was turned to the banks of the Rhine. It was
+learned that the young Duc d’Enghien, the son of the Duc de Bourbon,
+was at Ettenheim in the grand-duchy of Baden, just across the river.
+As a youth of twenty he had served twelve years before in the army of
+the Émigrés organized by his grandfather, the Prince de Condé, for
+the invasion of France. In 1801, after the peace of Lunéville, he had
+laid down his arms and taken up his residence in the former château
+of Cardinal de Rohan on the right bank of the Rhine ten miles from
+Strasbourg. Here he lived the life of a private citizen, in the company
+of a young and charming woman who was devoted to him, the Princesse de
+Rohan.
+
+An under-officer of the gendarmerie was secretly sent in disguise
+to Ettenheim in search of information. The prince at this time had
+with him an émigré by the name of Thumery, which the German servants
+pronounced Thoumeriez, and the spy reported that the French traitor
+Dumouriez was with the Duc d’Enghien. This information reached Paris on
+the 10 March 1804, and on the same day a servant of Cadoudal deposed
+that a young man, who was treated with the utmost respect, on several
+occasions had been in conference with the conspirators at Paris. On
+the strength of these various reports the First Consul jumped to the
+conclusion that the young Bourbon prince was deeply implicated in the
+conspiracy against his life.
+
+A special meeting of the Council was held at the Tuileries at ten
+o’clock on the evening of the 10 March, at which were present the
+three Consuls, and all the ministers. It was decided to issue orders
+for the immediate arrest of the Duc d’Enghien and the supposed General
+Dumouriez. Caulaincourt was sent with a letter to the Grand Duke of
+Baden, explaining this violation of German territory.
+
+Five days later thirty dragoons and twenty-five gendarmes under the
+command of Colonel Ordener crossed the river at Rheinau, opposite
+Ettenheim, and surrounded the château just as the day was beginning to
+break. The prince was taken without any resistance, and was conducted
+directly to Strasbourg, where he was interned in the citadel. At the
+end of three days he was placed in a postal-chaise and transferred
+to the château of Vincennes at Paris where he arrived late on the
+afternoon of the 20 March.
+
+Let us now see what was taking place at Paris during this time. On
+Passion Sunday, the 18 March, Madame de Rémusat took up her duties
+again as a dame du palais. Early in the morning she went to the
+Tuileries to be present at the Mass, which at this time was celebrated
+with much pomp. Afterwards, Joséphine held an informal reception in the
+salons, and then descended to her own apartment, where she announced
+that they were going to Malmaison to pass the week. Several hours
+later they set out, Bonaparte in one carriage, and Joséphine with
+Madame de Rémusat in another. Joséphine seemed sad and preoccupied,
+and had little to say. Finally she remarked: “I am going to tell you
+a great secret. This morning Bonaparte informed me that he had sent
+Caulaincourt to the frontier to seize the Duc d’Enghien. They are going
+to bring him here.” “Ah! mon Dieu, madame,” cried the lady, “what do
+they intend to do?” “Why, I think they mean to put him on trial.”
+
+Joséphine went on to say that she had done everything she could to
+obtain an assurance from the First Consul that the prince should not be
+condemned, but she was afraid that Bonaparte’s mind was made up, and
+that the duc must die.
+
+Before dinner the First Consul played chess, and appeared as calm
+and serene as usual. After the dinner, at which nothing important
+transpired, he retired to his cabinet to work with the police. The two
+following days passed quietly and sadly. Convinced that the fate of
+the prince was decided, Joséphine made no further efforts to turn her
+husband from his purpose.
+
+Tuesday morning Joséphine said: “It is all hopeless. The Duc d’Enghien
+arrives this evening; he will be taken to Vincennes, and tried
+to-night. Murat is in full charge. He is odious in this matter. It
+is he who is urging Bonaparte on.... Bonaparte has forbidden me to
+say anything more to him on the subject.” In the afternoon, the First
+Consul again played chess, and insisted on having the little Napoleon
+at dinner. He had the baby placed in the middle of the table, and
+was much amused to see him upset everything around him. After dinner
+Bonaparte seated himself on the floor, and played with the child.
+Noticing the pallor of Madame de Rémusat he asked why she had forgotten
+to put on her rouge, and added with a laugh: “That would never happen
+to you, Joséphine!”
+
+When they came downstairs at eight o’clock the next morning Savary
+was already in the salon. Joséphine said: “Well, is it done?” “Yes,
+madame,” he replied. “He died this morning, and, I must admit, with
+fine courage.” He then gave the details, which are now well known.
+
+By many persons, the execution of the Duc d’Enghien is considered the
+greatest blot on the fame of Napoleon. Talleyrand, with his usual
+cynicism, said: “It is worse than a crime; it is a blunder.” Naturally
+there was a cry of indignation from the royalists everywhere. It was
+perfectly legitimate for them to attempt the life of the plebeian
+usurper, but he must not shed a drop of the blue blood of the Bourbons!
+Napoleon himself never offered any excuses for his action on this
+occasion. Upon the threshold of eternity, in his last testament at
+Saint Helena, he wrote with his own hand: “I had the Duc d’Enghien
+arrested and tried because it was necessary for the security, the
+interest, and the honor of the French people, at a time when the Comte
+d’Artois, by his own admission, was maintaining sixty assassins at
+Paris. Under the same circumstances I would again do the same.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER FIFTEEN
+
+ 1804
+
+ EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH
+
+ The Empire Proclaimed--The Ceremony at Saint-Cloud--Joséphine
+ Hailed as Empress--Dissatisfaction of the Bonapartes--Chagrin
+ of Caroline--Napoleon Yields--Joséphine’s Attitude--Eugène de
+ Beauharnais--The Fête of the 14 July--Visit to the Banks of the
+ Rhine--A Letter from Napoleon--The Court at Mayence--Return to
+ Saint-Cloud
+
+
+There is no city in the world where things are forgotten so quickly as
+in Paris, and the impression made by the death of the Duc d’Enghien
+soon passed away. Even with the royalists the event caused more sorrow
+than indignation. The First Consul decided to appear in public as
+usual, and soon went with his wife to the Opéra, where he was greeted
+with the customary applause. A week after the execution, the Senate
+in an address formally called on Bonaparte to guarantee the future by
+rendering his work “as immortal as his glory.”
+
+In the Tribune, on the 28 April a member suggested a hereditary empire,
+and five days later the proposition was adopted by the vote of all
+the members except Carnot. The Senate disputed the initiative of the
+Tribune in this matter, because six weeks before Fouché had made
+an appeal to that body to establish hereditary power in the person
+of Bonaparte as the surest means of preserving the benefits of the
+Revolution.
+
+At the session of the 18 May the Senate adopted a decree worded as
+follows:
+
+“The French people decree the heredity of the Imperial dignity in
+the descent, direct, natural, legitimate, and adopted, of Napoleon
+Bonaparte; and in the descent, direct, natural, and legitimate, of
+Joseph Bonaparte and of Louis Bonaparte.”
+
+Then the Senate adjourned, and proceeded in a body to Saint-Cloud to
+hail the new sovereign, Napoléon I^{er}. Napoleon, in uniform, received
+them in the magnificent Gallery of Apollo where four and a half years
+before, in the early hours of a gloomy November morning, he had taken
+his oath as consul. Now it is a day of splendid May sunshine, and
+Joséphine, radiant with joy, is by the side of her husband, whose
+triumph she modestly shares.
+
+In the name of the Senate, Cambacérès pronounces a solemn discourse,
+which ends with the expression of the hope that the decree shall
+immediately be executed, and Napoleon instantly proclaimed as Emperor
+of the French. There is enthusiastic applause in the gallery, which is
+echoed throughout the château, and in the courts and gardens. The cry
+of “_Vive l’Empereur!_” to be heard later on so many fields of
+battle, for the first time splits the air.
+
+Napoleon, arrived at the goal of his ambition, conceals his pride
+under an air of outward calm. He is so much at ease in his new rôle of
+monarch, that one would imagine he was born to the purple.
+
+It is next the turn of the new Empress to receive the homage of the
+Senate. Cambacérès, in his most flowery manner, conveys to Joséphine
+the expression of the respect and gratitude of the French people for
+her never failing kindness and sympathy in cases of misfortune, the
+living remembrance of which would teach the world that, to dry the
+tears, is the surest way to reign over the hearts. Behold therefore the
+modest and gracious Creole elevated to the rank of sovereign!
+
+In the chorus of acclamations which echoed from every part of France
+there was scarcely a discordant note. The people ratified the
+Napoleonic dynasty by the almost unanimous vote of over three and a
+half millions in the affirmative against twenty-five hundred in the
+negative--a majority larger than that obtained for the Consulate. If
+supreme power is ever to be based upon the foundation of a nation’s
+will, no ruler in history ever had a clearer title to his throne than
+Napoleon Bonaparte!
+
+In the midst of these scenes of joy, the only persons who appear
+dissatisfied are the members of the new imperial family, who ought
+to be the most delighted, and the most astonished at their grandeur.
+Nothing seems sufficiently splendid to meet their extravagant desires.
+When we think of the modest mansion of their father at Ajaccio, it
+is impossible to suppress a smile at the pretentions of these new
+princes and princesses of the blood. Of the four brothers of Napoleon,
+two are absent and in disgrace: Lucien, for his marriage with Madame
+Jouberthou; Jérôme for having wedded Miss Patterson. His mother has
+espoused the cause of Lucien, and followed her son into exile at Rome.
+Joseph and Louis are disappointed because their children, instead
+of themselves, are designated in the line of succession. Élisa and
+Caroline are full of chagrin because they are placed in the official
+scale below their sister-in-law, the Empress, and they are plunged in
+despair because they do not yet receive the title of princesse like
+the wives of Joseph and Louis. They certainly must have expected that
+the wife of the Emperor would receive an exalted rank, but they did
+not imagine that Julie and Hortense, who were not of the _blood_,
+could bear titles which they themselves did not have.
+
+After the reception of the Senate at Saint-Cloud, at which Élisa and
+Caroline were present, the Emperor asked them to remain for dinner.
+As they were about to go to the table, Duroc announced the titles
+which should be given to each one, and in particular to the wives
+of the princes. Mesdames Bacciochi and Murat appeared astounded at
+the difference between themselves and their sisters-in-law. Madame
+Murat, especially, found it difficult to conceal her chagrin. About
+six o’clock the Emperor appeared, and began, without any appearance
+of embarrassment, to salute each one with his new title. The Empress
+showed her usual amiability; Louis appeared satisfied; Madame Joseph,
+resigned to what was expected of her; Madame Louis, equally submissive;
+Eugène de Beauharnais, simple and natural, with an air free from all
+signs of ambition or disappointment. It was not the same with the
+new marshal, Murat, but fear of his brother-in-law forced him to
+self-restraint, and he displayed a thoughtful reticence. As for Madame
+Murat, she was in despair, and had so little self-control that when she
+heard the Emperor, on several occasions during the dinner, address the
+_Princesse_ Louis, she could not repress her tears; she drank in
+succession several large glasses of water, in the endeavor to recover
+her composure, but the tears continued to fall.
+
+Her sister, Madame Bacciochi, older, and more mistress of herself, did
+not cry; but she was brusque and cutting in her manner, and treated the
+dames du palais with marked _hauteur_.
+
+After a while the Emperor became annoyed, and increased the
+discomforture of his sisters by teasing them with indirect banter. On
+this occasion there were too many people present for the matter to go
+further, but the following day at the family dinner, Madame Murat broke
+out in tears and complaints. Napoleon lost his temper, and replied very
+severely. Caroline, who could endure no more, fell on the floor in a
+dead faint. This had an immediate effect on Napoleon, who calmed down,
+and agreed to do what they wanted. The next day the official paper
+inserted the following note: “To the French princes and princesses is
+given the title of Imperial Highness: _the sisters of the Emperor
+bear the same title_.”
+
+In the midst of all these family _désagréments_ Joséphine
+maintained her usual amiable serenity. The conduct of his brothers and
+sisters was in such contrast with that of his wife and her children
+that Napoleon could not help being impressed with the difference.
+Except for money, from time to time, to pay her debts, Joséphine asked
+nothing. For the rest, she accepted whatever it pleased her husband to
+give her, but without any appearance of desiring it, and without any
+pretention that it was due her. If he gave to others, she approved, and
+never displayed any envy. Her conduct, whether calculated or not, was
+so adroit that every one was struck by her disinterestedness, and her
+husband most of all.
+
+With respect to her children Joséphine showed exactly the same spirit.
+As Napoleon himself stated later, she never asked anything for Eugène;
+never even thanked him for what he did for her son, and never showed
+any particular appreciation of his favors. At the début of the Empire,
+Napoleon did nothing for Eugène, who found himself relegated, by his
+duties and his rank, to the waiting-room the most distant from the
+Emperor’s apartment. Eugène seemed to consider this entirely natural,
+and made no complaint. When Napoleon offered him through Joséphine the
+office of Grand Chamberlain, Eugène modestly declined, saying in excuse
+that this employment suited neither his tastes nor his character, his
+vocation being entirely military. No reply could have better pleased
+the Emperor, who at once increased his allowance from 30,000 to 150,000
+francs, and appointed him colonel-general of the Chasseurs à cheval,
+which made him a grand officer of the Empire.
+
+The new Empire opened brilliantly; and no one seemed to give a
+thought to the Republic, of which almost the only vestige left was
+the gold coins that continued for several years to bear the anomalous
+inscription: “République Française, Napoléon Empereur.” The first
+public appearance of the new sovereigns on a formal occasion was at the
+fête of the 14 July, anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, which
+this year was to be the occasion of the presentation of the crosses of
+the Légion d’honneur. For the first time they traversed in a carriage
+the grande allée of the Tuileries Gardens, and proceeded with great
+pomp to the Hôtel des Invalides. The ceremony took place in the church,
+which during the Revolution had been made a Temple of Mars, and was now
+again consecrated for religious uses. After the Mass, and a discourse
+by the grand chancellor of the Order, the Emperor pronounced the oath,
+and each of the members cried: “Je le jure!” Napoleon then called to
+him Cardinal Caprara, who had negotiated the Concordat, and who was
+soon to be of great service in deciding the Pope to come to Paris for
+the Coronation. Detaching from his neck the cordon of the Légion, the
+Emperor presented it to the venerable prelate.
+
+On this occasion the Empress had a great personal triumph. She wore a
+robe of pink tulle covered with silver stars, with a very décolleté
+corsage, as was then the fashion, although the ceremony took place in
+full daylight. Clusters of diamonds crowned her head. Radiant with
+happiness, she never appeared to greater advantage.
+
+Four days later the Emperor left Saint-Cloud for Boulogne on a general
+tour of inspection of the Channel ports from Calais to Ostende. He
+left Joséphine occupied with the preparation of her toilettes for the
+visit which she was soon to make with him to the banks of the Rhine. He
+was to meet her the first of September at Aix-la-Chapelle, where the
+Empress was to precede him by several weeks for the purpose of taking
+the waters.
+
+As was his custom, before leaving Saint-Cloud Napoleon dictated in
+the minutest details the itinerary of the journey of the Empress.
+Everything was worked out with the same precision that he would have
+given to the orders for an army corps to arrive at a certain hour
+on the field of battle. He also dictated the replies that Joséphine
+was to make to the addresses of welcome that she would receive at
+the different cities through which she passed. Every day, before her
+departure, Joséphine could be seen, a large page of manuscript in her
+hand, trying to commit these discourses to memory, as a school-girl
+learns her lesson. Fortunately her replies were brief, and she soon
+knew them by heart.
+
+Joséphine’s life at Aix was very monotonous. After the morning
+toilette, the Empress went to the thermal establishment for a bath.
+An hour of rest followed, and then she dressed for breakfast. In the
+afternoon she usually went out for a drive. Upon her return she again
+changed her robe for dinner. In the evening, unless she went to the
+theatre, she retired at an early hour.
+
+It will be interesting here to read one of the letters written at this
+time by Napoleon to Joséphine, if only for the purpose of comparing it
+with the ardent effusions he sent her during the Campaign of Italy:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Aix-la-Chapelle_
+
+ CALAIS, 6 August 1804
+
+ Mon amie, I am at Calais since midnight; but expect to leave
+ for Dunkerque this evening. I am satisfied with my inspection,
+ and in quite good health. I trust that the waters will do you
+ as much good as the sight of the camp and the sea has done
+ me. Eugène has left for Blois. Hortense is well. Louis is at
+ Plombières. I long to see you. You are ever necessary to my
+ happiness. A thousand best wishes.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+After a visit of nine days at Aix, where he arrived on the 2 September,
+Napoleon left with Joséphine for Cologne. From there they travelled
+separately to Mayence, which they reached on the 20 September. At
+Mayence the sovereigns received the warmest of welcomes. The houses and
+public buildings were all illuminated in their honor. The Emperor found
+himself surrounded by a regular court of German princes. Performances
+were given by the second company of the Théâtre-Français, which had
+been summoned from Paris.
+
+On the 12 October the Emperor and Empress were once more back at
+Saint-Cloud. This visit to the banks of the Rhine made a great
+impression on France, and indeed on all Europe. No theatrical manager
+ever had a greater talent than Napoleon for what may be called the art
+of the _mise en scène_. The stage was now set for the Coronation,
+and the curtain was about to rise on one of the grandest spectacles the
+world has ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER SIXTEEN
+
+ 1804–1805
+
+ THE CORONATION
+
+ Cardinal Fesch Sent to Rome--The Pope Consents to Go to
+ Paris--Astonishment of Madame Mère--Joséphine’s Triumph Over
+ the Bonapartes--Preparations for the Ceremony--The Pope Arrives
+ at Fontainebleau--Joséphine’s Confession--The Excitement at
+ Paris--Isabey’s Ingenious Idea--Religious Marriage of Napoleon
+ and Joséphine--The Procession to the Cathedral--The Ceremony at
+ Notre-Dame--Joséphine Crowned by the Emperor--Her Joy--A Series
+ of Fêtes--Baptism of Napoleon-Louis
+
+
+During his absence from Paris the Emperor had not lost sight of his
+plans for the Coronation, and had sent his uncle Cardinal Fesch to Rome
+as a special ambassador. He was to arrange with the Pope to come to
+Paris to crown the new Charlemagne in his capital. If the Holy Father
+consented, Fesch had full powers to arrange with him all the details of
+the ceremony.
+
+After much hesitation the Pope finally agreed to yield to the wishes
+of the Emperor and go to Paris. This unheard-of act of condescension
+filled the new sovereign with delight. The political consequences to
+him were enormous: on the one hand, it assured his standing with the
+large Catholic population of France, and on the other, it legitimized
+his title in the eyes of the other sovereigns of Europe, and put an end
+to the claims of the Bourbons.
+
+The visit of the Pope to Paris was an event so extraordinary as to
+seem to every one almost incredible. When the report was first spread
+abroad, Madame Letitia, who was now called Madame Mère, was simply
+astounded at the thought that the Pope, _il santissimo Padre_,
+should condescend to make the journey to Paris to crown her _bambino
+Napoleone_ as Emperor of the French! The good woman could hardly
+realize it.
+
+No one had followed the negotiations with more interest than Joséphine.
+For her the important question was, would she be crowned with the
+Emperor? This, she thought, would mean an assured future, with no
+more worry over the perpetually recurring menace of divorce, which
+empoisoned her entire existence. As she had anticipated, the Bonapartes
+took this occasion to renew their efforts to persuade Napoleon to
+repudiate his wife, and this time they might have gained their end if
+they had used more tact. But they went too far in their attacks on
+Joséphine, and as usual only succeeded in arousing their brother’s
+wrath. In this crisis, Joséphine displayed so much grief, and at the
+same time so much submission to his wishes, that Napoleon could not
+bring himself to the point of repudiating her. “He took Joséphine in
+his arms, and told her effusively that he would never have the strength
+to part with her, even though public policy demanded it; then he
+promised her that she should be crowned with him, and receive at his
+side, from the hands of the Pope, the divine consecration.” Monsieur
+Thiers, in relating this incident, adds that he took it from the
+manuscript of the unpublished memoirs of a reliable person attached to
+the imperial family, who was an eye-witness of the scene.
+
+The preparations for the Coronation were on a grand scale, and nothing
+was left undone to make the spectacle imposing and memorable. The
+costumes were designed by the great painters David and Isabey. The
+crown of the Emperor, modelled upon that of Charlemagne, was made by
+Foncier, the leading jeweller of Paris, and was a wonderful work of
+art. It can still be seen in the Gallery of Apollo at the Louvre.
+
+In order to have the ceremony as perfect as possible, there were
+several “dress-rehearsals” held at Notre-Dame. David arranged the
+groups, and the scenes were repeated until each one knew his rôle
+perfectly. The painter profited by these rehearsals to make the
+sketches for his great painting of the Coronation, afterwards ordered
+by the Emperor, which now hangs in the Louvre. When some one said later
+to David that in his painting he had made Joséphine absurdly young, he
+replied: “Go and tell her so!”
+
+For the Coronation two dates had been considered: first, the 14 July,
+anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, and second, the 9 November,
+the day of the 18 Brumaire, when Bonaparte overthrew the Directory. But
+both of these dates were manifestly inappropriate, and the delay of the
+Pope in reaching a decision finally caused the day to be set for the
+first week in December.
+
+On the second day of November, the Pope, Pius the Seventh, then
+sixty-two years of age, left Rome for his long and tiresome journey to
+Paris. At the same time Napoleon was hurrying the work on the château
+of Fontainebleau, so that it should be ready to receive the Holy
+Father on his arrival. As if by magic, in less than three weeks the
+palace was redecorated and refurnished, with all its former splendor.
+
+The Pope was expected to arrive on Sunday the 25 November. To avoid
+all ceremony, Napoleon, dressed in hunting costume, left the palace
+an hour before noon, and directed his horse to the part of the forest
+by which the Pope was to arrive. As soon as his carriage stopped, on
+meeting the Emperor, the Pope descended, and Napoleon dismounted. The
+two illustrious sovereigns embraced cordially, and then entered the
+Emperor’s carriage, which had been sent to meet them.
+
+At the door of the palace, the Empress and the grand dignitaries of
+the Court were gathered, to meet the Supreme Pontiff. Dressed in a
+long white _soutane_, which fell around him like the drapery of
+an antique statue, with his face devoid of color, the Pope had a most
+ethereal air. His handsome and noble countenance, his sweet expression,
+his soft but resonant voice, produced a strong impression.
+
+The two sovereigns dined together, and the Pope retired at an early
+hour, to rest after the fatigues of so long a journey. The following
+day Joséphine managed to have a confidential interview with the Pope,
+during which she confided to him the fact that she and Napoleon were
+only united by a civil bond. She prayed him to use all his influence
+with the Emperor to have him put an end to this situation which was
+filling her heart with remorse! “Rest in peace, my daughter,” he said
+on retiring, “that will be arranged.”
+
+On Thursday the Pope made his entry into Paris, where he was received
+with the same honors accorded the Emperor. He was lodged at the
+Tuileries in the Pavillon de Flore, which had been prepared specially
+for his reception. He arrived at the palace about eight o’clock in the
+evening, in the same carriage with the Emperor. Joséphine, who left
+Fontainebleau in the morning, had reached Paris a few hours earlier.
+
+All Paris was excited over the approach of the great day. The hotels
+were crowded with strangers who had come from far and near to be
+present at the ceremony. All the shops were working night and day to
+have the uniforms and the robes ready in time. The ladies were to wear
+ball-dresses, with trains, with a collerette of blond lace called
+_cherusque_, which, fastened upon the two shoulders and rising
+quite high behind the head, recalled the fashions of the time of
+Catherine de Médicis. The costumes of the men were also very rich.
+
+A week before the ceremony the painter Isabey received from the
+Emperor an order to make seven sketches, representing the number of
+principal scenes in the spectacle at the cathedral. To prepare seven
+such designs, each containing over a hundred figures, in the short time
+at his disposal, was manifestly out of the question. In this dilemma
+Isabey conceived the ingenious idea of purchasing a hundred dolls and
+dressing them to represent the various personages. These he placed
+in a plan in relief of the interior of Notre-Dame, and took them to
+the Emperor. Napoleon was much amused and also much pleased at this
+solution of the problem, and the miniature stage with the puppets was
+used to instruct the actors as to their rôles in the spectacle.
+
+The Pope kept his promise to Joséphine, and, on the night before
+the Coronation, Cardinal Fesch, at an altar erected in the Emperor’s
+cabinet, performed the religious marriage of Napoleon and Joséphine.
+No witnesses were present, but after the ceremony the cardinal gave
+Joséphine a formal certificate of her marriage, which she always
+carefully guarded.
+
+At last the great day arrived. The second of December dawned cold and
+foggy, but the bright sun soon dissipated the mists. At an early hour
+the streets were crowded with spectators, and windows along the route
+of the procession rented as high as three hundred francs.
+
+Before the departure for Notre-Dame the ladies of the palace were
+introduced to the apartment of the Empress. Their costumes were
+very brilliant, but they paled before those of the Imperial family.
+Joséphine, resplendent with diamonds, her hair dressed in the mode
+of Louis Quatorze, did not appear over twenty-five. She wore a robe
+and court mantle of silver brocade, embroidered with golden bees, the
+Imperial emblem. She had a head-band of diamonds, a necklace, earrings,
+and a girdle, of very great value, all of which she wore with her
+accustomed grace.
+
+The Pope left the Tuileries at nine o’clock in a carriage drawn by
+eight dapple-grey horses. According to Roman usage he was preceded by
+one of his _cameriers_, mounted upon a mule, and bearing a large
+cross. This unaccustomed sight greatly amused the Parisians.
+
+The Emperor and Empress started over an hour later. Their carriage,
+which is still preserved in the museum of the Grand-Trianon at
+Versailles, was drawn by eight cream-colored horses, covered with
+brilliant harnesses. It was decorated with allegorical paintings on
+a gold background, and all the panels were of glass, so that the
+sovereigns could be seen from every side. They left the Tuileries by
+way of the Carrousel, and followed the Rue Saint-Honoré, as the Rue de
+Rivoli was not then completed. Marshal Murat, at the head of twenty
+squadrons of cavalry, led the way, and eighteen six-horse carriages
+followed, with the principal personages of the Court. The streets were
+guarded by a double line of infantry, who kept back the crowds.
+
+Arrived at the palace of the archbishop, Napoleon put on the coronation
+costume. Over a narrow robe of white satin, he wore a heavy mantle of
+crimson velvet. On his head he placed a crown of golden laurels; on his
+neck, the collar of the Légion d’honneur, in diamonds; at his side, a
+sword ornamented with the Regent diamond.
+
+After the High Mass, the Pope blessed the Imperial ornaments, and
+then returned them to the Emperor: the ring, which he placed upon his
+finger; the sword, which he replaced in its sheath; the mantle, which
+was attached to his shoulders by the chamberlains; then the sceptre
+and the “hand of justice,” which he gave to the Arch-Treasurer and the
+Arch-Chancellor.
+
+The only ornament which remained to be handed to the Emperor was the
+crown. As the Pope was about to proceed with this final act of the
+ceremony, Napoleon took from his hands the emblem of supreme power and
+proudly placed it himself upon his head.
+
+ [Illustration: NAPOLEON]
+
+It had been arranged that the train of the mantle of the Empress should
+be borne by the five Imperial princesses: Julie and Hortense, the wives
+of Joseph and Louis, and the three sisters of the Emperor, Élisa,
+Pauline and Caroline. It was not without violent protests that
+Napoleon’s sisters accepted this “servile” rôle.
+
+When the moment arrived for Joséphine to take her part in the ceremony,
+she arose and advanced towards the steps of the altar, where the
+Emperor awaited her. All the ladies of the palace arose at the same
+time, and the princesses who formed her “service d’honneur” proceeded
+to perform their duty. The mantle of the Empress, of red velvet
+embroidered with golden bees, and lined with ermine, was very heavy,
+and the rôle of the princesses was far from being merely honorary.
+The three sisters entirely neglected their part and the Empress was
+unable to move forward. The quick eye of Napoleon at once took in the
+situation, and a few sharp words to his sisters quelled the mutiny.
+
+Arrived before the altar, Joséphine knelt, joined her hands, and
+gracefully bowed her form. Napoleon then placed upon her head the small
+closed crown surmounted by a cross; he even seemed to take a loving
+pleasure in carefully arranging it upon her hair. Joséphine had never
+been so happy, or seemed so charming as on this occasion. Isabey, who
+had touched up her features with his painter’s art, had removed the
+traces of time, and she looked fifteen years younger than her real age.
+The head of Joséphine in David’s well known painting is a faithful
+representation of her appearance on this day.
+
+Mlle. Avrillon writes in her _Mémoires_: “Never have I seen upon
+any countenance an expression of joy, of satisfaction, of happiness,
+which could be compared to that which animated the face of the Empress:
+she was radiant! The crown placed upon her brow by the hands of her
+august spouse had assured her future, and seemed for all time to have
+ended the rumors of divorce with which she had been so often tormented.”
+
+After the ceremony the procession returned to the Tuileries by way of
+the boulevards and the present Rue Royale, and entered the palace from
+the Gardens. The day had been long and tiresome, and Napoleon was glad
+to resume his modest uniform of colonel of the Chasseurs de la Garde.
+He dined alone with Joséphine, whom he begged to retain the diadem
+which she wore so gracefully, and which became her so well. He was in
+excellent humor, and paid his wife a thousand compliments, saying that
+she was the most charming empress in the world!
+
+The Coronation was followed by a series of fêtes. On the 5 December
+the Emperor distributed to the Army the Imperial eagles. The ceremony
+took place on the Champ-de-Mars in the presence of the Empress and
+all the high dignitaries of the Empire. Unfortunately the weather was
+terrible: an icy rain fell in torrents, and the field was a sea of
+mud. Notwithstanding the storm, the streets along the route of the
+procession were crowded with spectators. In the evening there was a
+grand banquet, served in the Galerie de Diane at the Tuileries. The
+table of the sovereigns was placed on a magnificent dais: the Empress
+was seated in the centre, with the Emperor at her right, and the Pope
+at her left.
+
+Of all the entertainments, the finest was that given by the marshals
+at the Opéra on the 7 January 1805. The hall was transformed into a
+magnificent ball-room, by a floor built over the parquet on a level
+with the stage. The marshals arrived at eight o’clock, the Empress
+at ten, and the Emperor an hour later. After a concert, the ball was
+opened by Prince Louis, Marshal Murat, Eugène de Beauharnais, and
+Marshal Berthier, who danced with the four Imperial princesses. The
+Emperor twice made the tour of the room, and then retired at an early
+hour.
+
+The last of the fêtes was the baptism on the 24 March at Saint-Cloud
+of Napoleon-Louis, the second son of Louis and Hortense. The ceremony
+was performed by the Pope himself, a week before his departure for
+Rome. Joséphine had been the godmother of the older boy, but on this
+occasion Madame Mère was chosen to fill the rôle. Joséphine was
+entirely satisfied, as this baptism seemed to seal the reconciliation
+between the two families, and assure her future, as well as that of her
+grandson.
+
+From this date, up to the time of the divorce, there were no more
+solemn baptisms. Napoleon and Joséphine indeed promised to give their
+names to many children, but the Emperor always put off the ceremony,
+which finally took place at Fontainebleau in November 1810. But on
+this occasion there was another _marraine_, and the numerous
+_Joséphines_ were presented at the font by a new Empress, who was
+called Marie-Louise!
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
+
+ 1804–1809
+
+ DAILY LIFE OF THE EMPRESS
+
+ Joséphine’s Places of Residence--Her Apartments at
+ the Tuileries--Her Frequent Alterations--Her Rooms at
+ Saint-Cloud--Her Daily Routine--Her Personal Attendants--Her
+ Toilette--Her Lingerie and Robes--Her Lavish Expenditures--Her
+ Debts Paid by the Emperor--Her Life at the Tuileries
+
+
+Abandoning for a moment the chronological sequence of events, let us
+endeavor to depict Joséphine’s mode of life during the time that her
+career was linked with the Empire: from the 18 May 1804, when she was
+saluted as Empress at Saint-Cloud, to the 15 December 1809, when her
+marriage was dissolved at the Tuileries. To Frédéric Masson, of the
+Académie Française, we owe many interesting details of the existence of
+the Empress at this time.
+
+During these five years and a half, Joséphine passed less than
+twelve months in all at the Tuileries; she lived thirteen months
+at Saint-Cloud, eight at Malmaison, and four at Fontainebleau. She
+went twice to Plombières and once to Aix-la-Chapelle for the baths;
+she lived six months at Strasbourg and four at Mayence; she visited
+Germany, Italy and Belgium, the borders of the Rhine, and all of the
+centre and south of France. To follow her in her journeys, to trace her
+itinerary, would be both tedious and unprofitable; wherever she lived
+her surroundings were practically the same, and the details of her
+daily life never varied.
+
+In the endeavor to emancipate himself from a part of the slavery to
+which the sovereigns of France had always submitted, Napoleon divided
+his existence into two parts: one, the exterior, which belonged to
+the public; the other, the interior, which was intimate and private.
+The first had for its theatre the State apartments, the second was
+passed in the private rooms. But for the Empress this division was more
+apparent than real: the two lives were constantly overlapping.
+
+Now that the Tuileries have been destroyed for fifty years, it is
+difficult to give any clear idea of the apartments occupied by
+Joséphine, and especially so as she was continually changing the
+arrangement of the rooms. The “Appartement d’honneur” of the Empress
+was entered from the Carrousel at the corner of the Pavillon de Flore.
+The windows in the salons were so high from the floor that a person,
+when seated, could not see out; but Napoleon would allow no alterations
+made, as it would have injured the appearance of the façade of the
+palace. On the other side, the private rooms, which faced on the
+Gardens, were only separated from the public sidewalk by a low terrace,
+and it was possible for any passerby to see into the windows. Again the
+Emperor refused to have any change made which would have deprived the
+Parisians of the privilege of passing through the Gardens. It was not
+until the days of the “people’s king,” Louis-Philippe, that the windows
+were cut down, and a part of the Gardens was reserved.
+
+The private apartment of Joséphine comprised only a library, a bedroom,
+a dressing-room and bath-room. All these rooms, on the ground floor,
+faced on the Gardens, and were the same that Joséphine and Hortense
+had occupied when they first came to the Tuileries. The personal suite
+of the Emperor, on the first floor, was reached by several private
+staircases, one of which ascended from Joséphine’s bedchamber. These
+stairways were so narrow that two persons could not pass. The rooms
+on the Gardens were separated from those on the court by a long dark
+corridor. Above a part of Joséphine’s suite there was a mezzanine
+floor, or entresol, in which were located her wardrobes.
+
+The decorations of her apartment, made at the beginning of the
+Consulate, had never pleased Joséphine, who wished, above all, to have
+a handsome bedroom. Accordingly, when she was absent in Germany in
+1806, her rooms were entirely redecorated and refurnished by Fontaine,
+in a truly imperial style, at a cost of one hundred thousand francs.
+But Joséphine considered the work frightful, and a year later gave
+orders to have it all done over, to suit her own taste. In the budget
+of 1808, the Emperor allowed a credit of sixty thousand francs for
+this work, but the final cost exceeded a quarter of a million. This
+time the architects, discouraged by so many contradictory orders,
+decided to follow their own ideas. When Joséphine returned from
+Bayonne the work was all finished. She was furious because her orders
+had been disregarded: the decorations were “heavy and out of style”;
+the furniture was “too plain and too cheap.” She went to live at the
+Élysée, and, with her numerous absences from Paris, never again
+occupied the Tuileries for more than three months up to the day of her
+divorce. At the time of his second marriage, therefore, Napoleon did
+not think it necessary to make any great alterations for Marie-Louise
+in the rooms which Joséphine had hardly used.
+
+The arrangement of Joséphine’s rooms at Saint-Cloud was very similar
+to that at the Tuileries, except that they were located on the first
+floor, and were decorated in a more modern and more feminine style.
+Napoleon, who liked everything severe, but handsome, was not pleased
+with the furniture, which he did not consider in accord with the
+majesty of his person and his reign. He said that Joséphine’s apartment
+was fit only for a “fille entretenue.” Most of the visitors did not
+agree with this opinion: they considered the rooms in good taste, and
+much pleasanter than those in the Tuileries. On the walls were hung
+many fine paintings taken from the Musée Napoléon. In the salon of the
+Empress there was a handsome portrait of Madame Mère by Gérard. But
+what attracted the most attention was a large mirror in one piece,
+over the mantel: this was mounted on a back of solid silver, which
+disappeared when a spring was pressed, and furnished a fine perspective
+of the park, with the fountains, the vases and statues.
+
+The chamber of Joséphine was particularly attractive, with the bed, in
+the form of a small boat, of mahogany ornamented with gilded bronze;
+and mirrors on all sides. The bath-room was entirely in marble, with
+painted antique friezes.
+
+At Saint-Cloud the etiquette was somewhat relaxed, and the life more
+private. It was possible to walk in the restricted gardens, and to
+make extended excursions in carriages, through the park and in the
+neighborhood, particularly to Malmaison.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+To give an idea of the tastes and occupations of Joséphine, we will
+trace briefly the routine of one day. If the Emperor had passed the
+night in her apartment, he rose at eight o’clock, and, at Paris,
+ascended, or at Saint-Cloud, descended to his own rooms: only, at
+Saint-Cloud, there was no private staircase, and he was forced to pass
+through a long corridor to reach the public stairway.
+
+Then the Empress’ women entered and drew the curtains. For her first
+repast, Joséphine drank, in bed, a cup of infusion or a lemonade. She
+always wore a nightcap of percale or embroidered muslin, trimmed with
+lace. Although she had no end of night-dresses, she usually wore a
+chemise, over which at night she put on a camisole. The door was then
+opened for the entrance of her favorite pug dog, Fortuné, an ugly
+mongrel cur. This was a successor to the dog of the same name under
+whose collar she concealed her letters at the Carmes in 1794: that one
+had been killed at Montebello.
+
+Never later than nine o’clock, Joséphine enters her dressing-room,
+where she always passes at least three hours of her day, for she never
+neglects the mysterious rites of her toilette. Under the Empire,
+Joséphine had no less than twelve attendants to care for her person and
+her wardrobe, but the two _premières femmes_ were only there for
+the etiquette, and had few functions to perform beyond drawing their
+salary of six thousand francs. The four _femmes de chambre_ were
+pretty young girls, who after the end of 1805 were called _dames
+d’annonce_. Two of them were in service every other week, and their
+duty was to announce to the Empress the persons who called upon her.
+Their salary was three thousand francs a year. The real attendants
+of Joséphine were, the _garde d’atours_, Madame Mallet, and the
+four _femmes de garde-robe_, of whom one was Mlle. Avrillon,
+who, in her _Mémoires_, calls herself “première femme de chambre
+de l’Impératrice.” These women were the ones who entered into the
+familiarity of the Empress, and were most in her confidence. To them
+Joséphine intrusted not only her jewels and her robes, but also her
+most secret thoughts. To them she made presents of five hundred or a
+thousand francs at a time, gave them dots when they were married, and
+a pension when they retired. While guarding her rank, Joséphine always
+treated these attendants with the greatest kindness and politeness, and
+naturally she was adored by them.
+
+For Joséphine, the rites of her toilette were long and complicated.
+She always took a bath every day, which was rather unusual at that
+time. But the most important act was to _faire sa tête_, to efface
+the ravages of time. In those days it was customary for all society
+women to employ rouge, but Joséphine carried it to excess: not content
+with putting a little on her cheeks, she covered her entire face with
+powder and rouge. The eye of Napoleon was so accustomed to this excess
+of color that he thought any woman who did not show it must be ill:
+“Go and put on some rouge, Madame,” he said to one, “you look like a
+corpse.” On the other hand, Napoleon could not endure the scent of any
+perfume except a little lavender water or eau de Cologne.
+
+The intricate details of her toilette completed, Joséphine dresses for
+the morning. From her five hundred chemises, she selects one of muslin,
+percale, or batiste, embroidered at the bottom, and trimmed at the neck
+and sleeves with Malines or Valenciennes. The plainest ones cost a
+hundred francs, and some of them three times that amount. As Joséphine
+changes all her linen three times a day, the number of the garments is
+not so extraordinary.
+
+She almost always wears white silk stockings, costing from twenty to
+seventy francs a pair: no garters, as the new silk stockings stay in
+place. In the morning she puts on house shoes of taffetas or satin,
+at eight francs the pair, of which she orders over five hundred a
+year. She usually wears a light corset of lined percale trimmed with
+Valenciennes, for which she pays about forty francs. After the corset
+she puts on a flimsy petticoat of percale trimmed with her favorite
+lace. That is all, absolutely all: “Joséphine n’a dans sa garde-robe
+que deux pantalons en soie de couleur chair pour monter à cheval.”
+
+When Joséphine has put on a peignoir, her coiffeur, Herbault, is
+introduced. He is an important personage, in embroidered costume, with
+a sword by his side, and receives in salary and gifts eight thousand
+francs a year. But Herbault is only employed on ordinary occasions: for
+days of ceremony there is Duplan, who is paid twelve thousand francs,
+and later, in the time of Marie-Louise, receives the magnificent salary
+of forty-two thousand francs. It is impossible to attempt to describe
+the _coiffures_ employed by Joséphine, for they varied from day
+to day. Her hair was of a decidedly auburn shade, and in color and
+thickness remained the same to the end of her life.
+
+After these first details, which had consumed much time, there was
+a regular council of war as to the robe, the hat and the wrap to be
+selected. In summer her dresses were of muslin, batiste or percale,
+and she had over two hundred to select from; in winter she wore cloth
+or velvet gowns, of which she had no less than six or seven hundred in
+her wardrobe! To wear with these costumes there were endless wraps,
+of every possible material, mostly trimmed with the rarest and most
+expensive furs.
+
+Joséphine always wore a hat in the morning, and frequently also in the
+evening. Her choice was limited to two hundred and fifty, all different
+in form, color, and trimming!
+
+Twice a year she went carefully through her wardrobe, and gave away
+a large part of her collection. Most of the articles, some of which
+she had never used, were presented to her femmes de chambre; but even
+Madame Mère and the Queens of Naples and Westphalia, did not disdain to
+accept such gifts.
+
+In six years Joséphine spent for her wardrobe the enormous sum of a
+million and a half, and this did not include accounts not settled, or
+costumes for ceremonies like the Coronation, for which the Emperor made
+her a special allowance. In addition, during the same period, she spent
+over five million francs for jewelry. When Napoleon, after her divorce,
+paid up all her debts, her total expenditures for the six years reached
+the enormous total of 6,647,580 francs, or an average of more than a
+million francs a year! When we consider that the Empress had the use
+of the finest Crown jewels in the world, valued at over five millions,
+it is difficult to understand why she made all these purchases for
+her own private collection. Her motive does not seem to have been to
+accumulate a reserve, for use in case of necessity, but rather a real
+mania for spending money. Her collection, which she left to Hortense,
+was appraised after her death at over four million francs, which was
+probably a third less than the actual value.
+
+We have at first hand the story of the scene which preceded the first
+payment of her debts in 1806. Joséphine came to the table with tears in
+her eyes. Napoleon leaned over and whispered to her:
+
+“Well, Madame, you are in debt.”
+
+No reply except a sob.
+
+“You owe a million.”
+
+“No, Sire, I swear that I only owe six hundred thousand.”
+
+“Only that, you say; does that seem to you only a bagatelle?”
+
+He adds a few words of reproach, and she begins to sob louder than
+ever. Then he whispers again:
+
+“Come! Joséphine, come, my little one, do not cry, compose yourself.”
+
+And the debts are paid.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+After she was dressed Joséphine received her physician. She had a
+constitution of iron, and was rarely ill, but she was a “malade
+imaginaire,” and was always taking medicine. Corvisart, the chief
+physician of the Emperor, generally succeeded in curing her by a
+prescription made up of bread pills!
+
+At eleven o’clock precisely, for she was punctuality personified,
+Joséphine entered the Salon Jaune, where were introduced the ladies
+she had invited for déjeuner. The menu, which was usually prepared for
+ten persons, comprised a soup, two relevés, six entrées, two roasts,
+six entremêts, and six dishes of dessert. A bottle of Beaune and two
+bottles of fine Bourgogne were served. Coffee was taken at the table,
+and a half-bottle of liqueur was provided.
+
+Joséphine, who ate but little, did the honors with charming courtesy,
+drawing out her guests to tell her all the latest gossip of the city
+and the Court, which the Emperor was always interested in hearing
+repeated. Napoleon usually took a hasty breakfast on a little table in
+his cabinet, but sometimes he came down and joined his wife’s party.
+
+After breakfast Joséphine returned to the salon. To walk in the
+Gardens was impossible, and the only exercise she took at Paris
+was an occasional game of billiards. She rarely read anything, and
+never called upon her ladies to read for her. But she was fond of
+conversation, and there was always some one with whom to talk.
+
+At five o’clock Joséphine went to her rooms to change her toilette
+for dinner, which was served at the early hour of six o’clock. She
+changed completely, and selected an evening gown, which was always very
+décolleté. In the evening she always wore a great many jewels.
+
+Her toilette finished, Joséphine waits for the préfet du palais to
+announce that the Emperor is ready to go to dinner. Sometimes,
+absorbed in his work, Napoleon forgets that he has not dined, and
+she waits one hour, two, occasionally three or four. She is never
+impatient, and never disturbs Napoleon at his work. She passes the time
+in conversation with her ladies. When the Emperor is ready she goes to
+the room where the dinner is served--sometimes in her apartment, and
+sometimes in that of Napoleon on the floor above. At Paris they usually
+dined alone, except Sundays, when there was a family party.
+
+After dinner Napoleon always went to Joséphine’s salon, where she
+herself served the coffee. Unless they were going out to the theatre,
+or there was a ball, concert or spectacle at the Château, which
+happened about twice a week, the Emperor remained for a short time, and
+talked with any dignitaries who had called. He then returned to his
+cabinet, and Joséphine passed the evening in conversation, or in a game
+of backgammon or whist, both of which games she played remarkably well.
+
+Quite often the Emperor, after he had retired for the night, sent for
+her to read to him, as he loved the sound of her voice. As soon as
+he was asleep, she returned to her salon, and resumed her game. At
+midnight all visitors departed, and Joséphine made her toilette for the
+night, which took nearly as long as that of the morning. “In this also
+she was elegant,” said the Emperor; “she was graceful even in going to
+bed.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
+
+ 1805
+
+ ITALY AND STRASBOURG
+
+ The Journey to Italy--Grand Review at Marengo--Napoleon’s
+ Reconciliation with Jérôme--The Coronation at Milan--The
+ Emperor’s Satisfaction--Eugène, Viceroy of Italy--Joséphine’s
+ Grief--Napoleon’s Attachment to His Wife--The Fêtes at
+ Genoa--Hurried Return to France--Joséphine at Plombières--The
+ Austerlitz Campaign--Joséphine’s Sojourn at Strasbourg--Her Life
+ There--Napoleon’s Letters During the Campaign
+
+
+On the 2 April 1805 Napoleon left Fontainebleau for Milan, where he was
+to be crowned as King of Italy. He had not intended to take Joséphine
+with him, but she pleaded so warmly that he finally yielded. The first
+night was spent at Troyes, and the following day the Emperor went
+alone to Brienne, to see the school where he had received his first
+education. He slept at the château, and the following morning, without
+any escort, he visited the old familiar scenes of his boyhood.
+
+Following the usual route via Mâcon the imperial party reached Lyon
+a week later. In order not to fatigue the Empress, Napoleon had
+arranged to stop every night in some city, instead of travelling night
+and day as was his regular habit. The sovereigns usually stayed at
+the préfecture, where they found the dinner ready to serve, and the
+lodgings prepared by the servants sent in advance.
+
+At Lyon they descended at the palace of the archbishop, Cardinal Fesch,
+who had recently been appointed to this see. The entire journey from
+Fontainebleau had been a triumphal march. The villagers had flocked
+from far and near to line the route and cheer their Emperor, with an
+enthusiasm which at that time was as sincere as it was spontaneous.
+
+It was three hours after noon when the party entered Lyon, and the
+entire populace of the second city of France had gathered to acclaim
+the Emperor. Napoleon had done much to increase the prosperity of this
+large silk-manufacturing town, and he was extremely popular there.
+
+After a sojourn of five days, they left for Turin by way of Mont-Cenis.
+The fine road over the Alps, constructed by Napoleon, was not yet
+completed, and, to cross the mountains, _chaises à porteur_ were
+provided for the women, and mules for the men. The Pope, who had left
+Fontainebleau two days after the Emperor, was still at Turin, where
+he had stopped for a short rest on his way to Rome. As he occupied
+the palace, the Emperor deferred for several days his entry into the
+capital, and stopped at an old villa of the King of Sardinia a few
+miles from the city.
+
+Before proceeding to Milan, the party turned aside to visit
+Alessandria. Here, the 5 May, the Emperor held a grand review on the
+field where five years before he had gained the great victory of
+Marengo. He had brought from Paris, and wore again on this occasion
+the old and faded uniform, the shapeless hat, and the heavy sabre,
+which recalled so many glorious memories. The manœuvres were directed
+by Eugène under the orders of the Emperor, and Napoleon expressed
+to Joséphine his satisfaction with the manner in which her son had
+performed his task.
+
+On the following day, Napoleon saw Jérôme for the first time since his
+brother’s marriage. Jérôme had arrived at Lisbon with his wife during
+the month of April. He was allowed to land, but, under orders from the
+Emperor, she was forced to reëmbark for England. Jérôme was summoned
+to meet the Emperor in Italy, and travelled there post-haste. After a
+decisive interview with Napoleon, he basely agreed to abandon his wife
+and her unborn child, and was again restored to favor.
+
+On the 8 May the Emperor entered Milan, where his welcome was not
+so spontaneous as in the cities of Piedmont. Napoleon was much
+disappointed at the lack of real enthusiasm, and spoke of it to
+Joséphine. His coronation as King of Italy took place on the 26 May in
+the cathedral. The weather was perfect, and the city was crowded with
+spectators. The ceremonies were similar to those at Notre-Dame, but
+on a much smaller scale. Cardinal Caprara, the Archbishop of Milan,
+officiated. Napoleon himself placed upon his head the celebrated
+Iron Crown of the ancient kings of Lombardy, at the same time using
+the traditional formula: “God gave it me; woe to him who touches
+it!” Joséphine, although she bore the title of Queen of Italy, was
+not crowned as at Paris, and was present at the ceremony only as a
+spectator.
+
+“After our return to the palace,” writes Mlle. Avrillon, “I was
+occupied in the room of the Empress when the Emperor entered. He was
+full of glee; he laughed, rubbed his hands together, and said with
+great good humor: ‘Well, mademoiselle, did you have a good view of
+the ceremony? Did you hear what I said in placing the crown upon my
+head?’ Then he repeated in nearly the same tone he had used in the
+cathedral: _Dieu me l’a donnée, gare à qui y touche!_ I replied
+that nothing had escaped me. He was most amiable to me, and I have
+often remarked that when nothing disturbed the Emperor he was very
+familiar with the persons of his household; he spoke to us with a sort
+of _bonhomie_, of freedom, as if he were our equal.... Often he
+gave us a little tap, or pulled our ears: it was a favor which he did
+not accord to everybody; and we could judge of the extent of his good
+humor by the greater or less degree of pain that he caused us.... Very
+frequently he did the same to the Empress when we were dressing her: he
+gave her some taps playfully upon the shoulders. It was useless for her
+to cry: _Finis donc, finis donc, Bonaparte!_ he continued as long
+as the play amused him.”
+
+On the 10 June the Emperor announced the appointment of Eugène as
+Viceroy of Italy. This elevation of her son, which should have
+delighted Joséphine, was only a cause of chagrin. She shed tears at the
+thought of being separated from her child. One day when the Emperor
+found her very sad he said: “You weep, Joséphine: it is not reasonable.
+Do you cry because you are going to be separated from your son? If the
+absence of your children causes you so much grief, judge what I myself
+must endure! The attachment to them which you show makes me cruelly
+feel the misfortune of not having any.” These words were far from
+assuaging the grief of the Empress: they raised once more the dreaded
+spectre of divorce. Napoleon certainly had no idea of increasing her
+grief, and Joséphine could not let him see what an interpretation she
+put upon his speech. “The Emperor,” says Mlle. Avrillon, “was one
+of the best husbands that I have ever known; when the Empress was
+indisposed he passed by her side all the time that he could take from
+his affairs. He always came to her before retiring, and very often
+when he awoke during the night, he came himself, or sent his Mameluke
+to have news of Her Majesty. He had for her the most tender regard,
+and it is only true to say that she fully returned it.... Nothing that
+I say here would seem exaggerated if others, like myself, could have
+witnessed the proofs of affection which they both displayed; and I am
+certain that when political reasons forced them to separate, all the
+grief was not on one side.”
+
+On the 10 June the Emperor left Milan for a visit to the Austrian
+frontier and the famous Quadrilateral, the scene of so many of his
+brilliant victories. Three days later he held another grand review
+of his troops on the battle-field of Castiglione. Joséphine took
+advantage of his absence to make with a few attendants the tour of the
+Italian lakes. She was happy to be free for a few days from the irksome
+etiquette which the presence of the Emperor always imposed.
+
+On her return to Milan, she dismissed most of her suite, who were
+to leave directly for Paris, and with a few attendants proceeded
+to Bologna, where she rejoined the Emperor. In this city the new
+sovereigns of Italy received a very warm greeting, which partially
+atoned for the coldness of the Milanais. On the last day of June
+the party arrived at Genoa, well named the Superb, where they had a
+brilliant reception. During the following week there was a succession
+of magnificent fêtes to celebrate the incorporation of the ancient
+republic in the French Empire.
+
+Late on the 6 July a special courier from Paris brought to the Emperor
+the news of the formation of the Third Coalition, and at ten o’clock
+that evening he set out for Turin, where he arrived early on the
+following morning. He then told the Empress of his intention to start
+the next day post-haste for Paris, leaving her to follow him more
+leisurely. Joséphine begged to accompany him, and the Emperor finally
+consented, on her promise not to have one of her headaches!
+
+The party started in three carriages--one for the Emperor and Empress,
+another for the grand officers of the household, and a third for
+the service--with a small escort of cavalry. But after crossing
+Mont-Cenis, the Emperor travelled so rapidly that the other carriages
+and the escort were left far behind. Napoleon and Joséphine reached
+Fontainebleau about ten o’clock on the night of the 11 July, after an
+absence of exactly one hundred days. Four days later the Emperor wrote
+Eugène: “I arrived eighty-five hours after my departure from Turin.
+Nevertheless I lost three hours on Mont-Cenis and I stopped constantly
+on account of the Empress. One or two hours to breakfast and one or
+two hours to dine made me lose eight or ten hours more.” The express
+trains via the Mont-Cenis tunnel now make the run of about 440 miles
+in fourteen hours. Allowing for the delays of which he speaks, and the
+longer distance by road, the Emperor made the trip in about seventy
+hours, at the rate of nearly seven miles an hour.
+
+The arrival of the Emperor at Fontainebleau was so unexpected that
+there was no one to receive him except the concierge of the palace, an
+old servant named Gaillot, who had been his cook in Egypt. “Come, my
+good fellow,” said the Emperor, “you must resume your old calling; you
+must get us some supper.” Fortunately Gaillot had in his larder some
+mutton chops and some eggs, and Napoleon and Joséphine ate the simple
+repast with a good appetite.
+
+A week later the Emperor reached Saint-Cloud, while the thunder of
+the cannon of the Invalides announced his return to the capital. The
+same evening, after a call on Madame Mère, the sovereigns attended the
+Opéra, where they received a warm welcome from the audience.
+
+On the second day of August the Emperor left Saint-Cloud for a month’s
+tour of inspection of the Grand Army, which was in cantonments along
+the Channel, prepared for a descent on England. Here, ten days later,
+he received news that Admiral Villeneuve, after an indecisive action
+with the English fleet off Ferrol, had set sail for Cadiz, instead of
+Brest, as ordered. Losing no time in vain regrets over the failure
+of his well-laid plans, Napoleon called Daru to his headquarters at
+Pont-de-Brique at four o’clock in the morning, and dictated at one
+sitting the plan of the Austrian campaign as far as Vienna.
+
+In the meantime Joséphine had gone to her favorite watering-place,
+Plombières, to take the baths. What a marvellous change in her fortunes
+since her earlier visit as Madame Bonaparte after the departure of her
+husband for Egypt! Then, after her accident, she was almost alone, and
+Hortense was called in haste from Saint-Germain to nurse her mother.
+Now a company of infantry is sent to escort Her Majesty from Nancy to
+Plombières; there are receptions by authorities civil and military,
+addresses and salutes; triumphal arches at the gates of the cities;
+at Plombières, illuminations and fireworks. She is accompanied by a
+préfet du palais, an écuyer d’honneur, a dame d’honneur and two dames
+du palais, five femmes de chambre, and a score or more of servants. The
+charges for the post, going and coming, amount to nearly forty thousand
+francs, and the entire expenses of the trip total over 134,000 francs.
+
+By way of diversion, Joséphine had her portrait painted by a very
+popular artist named Laurent whom she met at Plombières. For this small
+full-length portrait, eighteen inches by fifteen, she paid six thousand
+francs. Except for a few excursions in the neighborhood this was the
+only occupation of her days. At Bondy, on her return, she was greeted
+by the prefect and all the authorities. She survived the addresses,
+and without any escort continued her journey to Malmaison, which she
+reached the last of August.
+
+On the 24 September, between four and five o’clock in the morning,
+accompanied by Joséphine, Napoleon left Saint-Cloud to put himself
+at the head of the Grand Army, which exactly four weeks before had
+begun its march from the Channel to the Rhine. The journey of 315
+miles to Strasbourg was made in sixty hours without any stop. In
+accompanying the Emperor to Strasbourg, and taking up her residence
+there, Joséphine’s thought was, “to escape from the Parisian addresses
+which bored her; from the surveillance of her brothers-in-law; and from
+the ennui of the palace of Saint-Cloud.” She was amused with a new
+entertainment.
+
+In the ancient capital of Alsace, Joséphine lived in the episcopal
+mansion at the foot of the cathedral. It was a real palace, completed
+in 1741, and entirely modern in its appointments. Built by the first
+bishop of the house of Rohan, Armand-Gaston, cardinal and grand
+almoner, it had been visited by Louis the Fifteenth in 1744, and had
+received Marie-Antoinette on her arrival in France as Dauphine in 1770.
+Sold early in the Revolution as national property, it had been bought
+by the city and become the seat of the municipal administration. After
+the foundation of the Empire the city had offered the palace to the
+State as one of the “four imperial residences to be established at the
+four principal points of the Empire.” From Boulogne, the Emperor had
+ordered Duroc to send Fontaine to Strasbourg to put the mansion in
+order to receive him. In less than two weeks the architect cleared out
+the clerks and the archives; cleaned, redecorated and refurnished the
+palace--all at a cost not much exceeding two hundred thousand francs.
+Furniture was collected from the neighboring cities and châteaux;
+linen, glass and silver were sent from Paris. Three days before the
+Emperor’s arrival all was ready, even to the carriages and horses in
+the stables.
+
+The private suite of the Emperor, facing on the court, comprised five
+rooms, while in the rear, fronting on the terrace of the Ill, were
+the State apartments, seven magnificent salons on the first floor. On
+the first and second floors, there were fourteen small rooms at the
+disposal of the Empress; the quarters were not very commodious, but she
+was satisfied.
+
+The Emperor remained only four days at Strasbourg and then proceeded to
+the headquarters of the army. The life of Joséphine after his departure
+was one continual round of dinners, balls, concerts and spectacles.
+In two months Bausset, the prefect of the palace, paid out over two
+hundred thousand francs for the running expenses of the household. As
+the success of the Emperor became known there were visits from all of
+the South German princes. Joséphine received the homage rendered her;
+she missed no ceremony; she remained until the end of all the balls she
+gave, and had a smile and a polite word for every one.
+
+Not content with enjoying all the pleasures of the city, Joséphine
+indulged to the limit her mania for spending. Everything that was
+offered, she bought: pictures, porcelains, plants, living animals--all
+of which went to swell her collection at Malmaison. With the expenses
+of the palace, she left over a million francs behind her in Strasbourg.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+The story of the campaign of 1805 is told in the letters which Napoleon
+wrote almost daily. From every bivouac, from every field of battle,
+came one of his letters--not burning and delirious as nine years
+before, but full of tenderness and loving thought.
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ ETTLINGEN, 2 October 1805
+
+ I am still here and in good health. The grand manœuvres have
+ begun; the army of Würtemberg and Baden is now united with mine.
+ I am in a good position, and I love thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+ LUDWIGSBURG, 4 October
+
+ I leave to-night. There is nothing new. The Bavarians have
+ united with my army. I am well. In a few days I hope to have
+ something interesting to tell you. Take care of yourself, and
+ believe me ever yours....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ LUDWIGSBURG, 5 October
+
+ I leave at once to continue my march. You will be five or six
+ days without news of me: do not be anxious, for that is due to
+ the operations which are about to take place. All goes well, and
+ as I had expected. Adieu, mon amie, I love and embrace thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+On the 6 October the Emperor surveyed the passage of the Danube at
+Donauwörth, and passed the night at Nördlingen, where on the following
+day he issued the first of the famous bulletins of the Grand Army. He
+remained in this vicinity for four days, directing the passage of the
+river by the troops of Murat, and the operations which followed. He
+reached Augsbourg on the night of the tenth, and lodged with the former
+Elector of Trèves.
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ AUGSBOURG, 10 October
+
+ I have been on the move for a week. The campaign has opened
+ favorably. I am very well although it has rained nearly every
+ day. Events have moved rapidly. I am sending to France 4000
+ prisoners and eight flags, and have fourteen cannon taken from
+ the enemy. Adieu, mon amie, I embrace thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+Two days later the French Army entered Munich in triumph, and the
+Emperor continued his correspondence:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ AUGSBOURG, 12 October
+
+ The enemy is lost: everything presages the most fortunate
+ campaign, the shortest and the most brilliant that I have ever
+ made. I leave in an hour for Burgau. I am well, although the
+ weather is frightful; I change my clothes twice a day. I love
+ and embrace thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+On the eve of the capitulation of Ulm, from his headquarters Napoleon
+sent the good news to Joséphine:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ ELCHINGEN, 18 October
+
+ I have accomplished my purpose: I have destroyed the Austrian
+ army by simple marches. I have made 60,000 prisoners, taken 120
+ cannon, more than 90 flags, and more than 30 generals. I am
+ going to move on the Russians: they are lost. I am content with
+ my army. I have lost only 1500 men, of whom two-thirds are but
+ slightly wounded. Adieu, my Joséphine. A thousand good wishes
+ for everybody....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ ELCHINGEN, 21 October
+
+ I am quite well, ma bonne amie. I am just starting for
+ Augsbourg. Here 33,000 men have laid down their arms. I have
+ from 60 to 70,000 prisoners, more than 90 flags, and 200 cannon.
+ Never such a catastrophe in the annals of war! Take care of
+ thyself. I am rather tired out. The weather for three days has
+ been fine....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ AUGSBOURG, 23 October
+
+ The last two nights have rested me, and I leave to-morrow for
+ Munich.... I long to see thee, but do not count upon my sending
+ for thee unless there is an armistice or we go into winter
+ quarters. Adieu, mon amie. A thousand kisses....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ MUNICH, 27 October
+
+ I have your letter, and see with regret that you were
+ over-anxious. I have received reports which show all the
+ tenderness you feel for me, but you must have more strength and
+ confidence.... My health is quite good. You must not think of
+ crossing the Rhine under two or three weeks. You must be gay;
+ enjoy yourself, and hope that we shall see each other before the
+ end of the month (Brumaire).... Adieu, ma bonne amie. A thousand
+ best wishes for Hortense, Eugène, and the two Napoleons....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ HAAG (near WELS), 3 November
+
+ I am in the midst of a long march. The weather is very cold;
+ the earth covered with a foot of snow, which is rather severe.
+ Fortunately we are still in the midst of the forests, and there
+ is plenty of wood. I am quite well, and would like to hear from
+ you, and know that you are not anxious....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ LINZ, 5 November
+
+ The weather is fine. We are twenty-eight leagues from Vienna....
+ I long to see you. My health is good. I embrace you.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The Emperor of Austria, obliged to flee from his capital, had taken
+refuge at Brünn, where he joined the Czar and his army. On the
+13 November Napoleon entered Vienna, and took up his residence at
+Schœnbrunn.
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ VIENNA, 15 November
+
+ I have been here for two days, and am a little fatigued. I have
+ not yet seen the city by day, but have been through it at night.
+ Nearly all my troops are across the Danube in pursuit of the
+ Russians. Adieu, my Joséphine. I will send for you as soon as
+ possible. A thousand best wishes.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The following day the Emperor sent Joséphine the welcome message that
+he had made all the arrangements for her to proceed to Munich.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER NINETEEN
+
+ 1805–1806
+
+ MARRIAGE OF EUGÈNE
+
+ Joséphine Leaves Strasbourg for Munich--Napoleon’s Letters from
+ Austerlitz--Joséphine’s Selfishness--The Émperor Arrives at
+ Munich--He Plans Three Family Alliances--Princesse Augusta of
+ Bavaria--Prince Charles of Baden--Opposition to the Emperor’s
+ Projects--Duroc Presents the Official Demand--The Elector
+ Finally Obtains His Daughter’s Consent--Napoleon Summons
+ Eugène--The Young Couple--The Marriage--Its Success--Napoleon’s
+ Reception at Paris--Marriage of Prince Charles and Stéphanie de
+ Beauharnais
+
+
+The letter which Napoleon wrote to Joséphine from Vienna on the 16
+November 1805 is interesting as showing how, in the midst of an arduous
+campaign, he thought of the smallest details of his wife’s comfort and
+pleasure:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ VIENNA, 16 November 1805
+
+ I am writing M. d’Harville that you are to set out for Munich,
+ stopping at Baden and Stuttgart. At Stuttgart you will give
+ the wedding present to the Princesse Paul. Fifteen or twenty
+ thousand francs will be enough to pay: with the balance you
+ can make presents at Munich to the daughters of the Elector of
+ Bavaria.... Be kind, but receive all the homages: they owe you
+ everything, but you owe them only kindness. The Electrice of
+ Würtemberg is a daughter of the King of England; she is a good
+ woman, and you should treat her well, but without affectation.
+ I shall be very glad to see you the moment my affairs permit. I
+ am leaving for the front. The weather is frightful; it snows all
+ the time. For the rest, all goes well. Adieu, ma bonne amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+As soon as she received the permission of the Emperor, Joséphine made
+haste to start. At an early hour on the 28 November, with her suite,
+she left Strasbourg amidst the cheers of the populace, and the thunders
+of the cannon of the fortress. On her arrival at Carlsruhe the same
+evening, she was received with salvos of artillery; the château was
+illuminated and the Margrave was at the door to welcome her, with his
+entire Court. That evening there was a banquet, followed by a ball.
+
+Two days later she left for Stuttgart, where she was received with the
+same honors. On the 3 December she continued her journey to Munich. All
+along the route, she passed under triumphal arches, and was welcomed
+with salutes. At Ulm, Marshal Augereau, who was in command, had
+arranged a parade, and a splendid fête for the evening, but the Empress
+had overtaxed her strength and was obliged to retire with a headache.
+
+Passing through Augsbourg, she finally reach Munich, where she found
+awaiting her, at the gates of the city, the Court carriages, celebrated
+as chefs-d’œuvre of painting and sculpture. From the date of her
+arrival, on the 5 December, until the last day of the month, she was
+alone. The time passed quickly in a succession of entertainments of
+every kind, and Joséphine had scarcely a moment to herself.
+
+While the Empress was on her way to Munich, Napoleon had won the great
+victory of Austerlitz, and finished his most brilliant campaign. His
+affectionate interest in Joséphine is displayed in the three letters
+which he sent her from the field of battle:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Munich_
+
+ AUSTERLITZ, 3 December 1805
+
+ I have beaten the Russian and Austrian armies commanded by the
+ two Emperors. I am somewhat fatigued; I have bivouacked a week
+ in the open air and the nights have been quite cold; to-night I
+ sleep in the château of Prince Kaunitz. The Russian army is not
+ only defeated but destroyed. I embrace thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ AUSTERLITZ, 5 December
+
+ I have concluded a truce. The Russians are going back. The
+ battle of Austerlitz is the finest that I have ever fought:
+ 45 flags, more than 150 cannon, the standards of the Russian
+ Guard, 20 generals, 30,000 prisoners, more than 20,000 killed--a
+ horrible sight. The Emperor Alexander is in despair, and has set
+ out for Russia. I met the Emperor of Germany yesterday at my
+ bivouac, and talked with him for two hours: we have agreed to
+ make peace quickly.... I am looking forward with great pleasure
+ to the moment that I can join thee. Adieu, ma bonne amie. I am
+ quite well, and I long to embrace thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ AUSTERLITZ, 7 December
+
+ I have concluded an armistice; in a week peace will be made.
+ I am anxious to know if you reached Munich in good health....
+ Adieu, mon amie, I long to see thee again.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+But Joséphine was no more prompt in answering his letters than during
+the Campaign of Italy, and a few days later Napoleon wrote again:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Munich_
+
+ BRÜNN, 10 December
+
+ It is a long time since I have received any news of thee.
+ Have the fine fêtes of Baden, Stuttgart and Munich made thee
+ forget the poor soldiers covered with mud, drenched with rain
+ and blood? I leave soon for Vienna. We are working to conclude
+ peace.... I long to be near thee. Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The silence of Joséphine still continued, and Napoleon addressed her
+once more, in a tone of wounded pleasantry:
+
+ VIENNA, 19 December
+
+ Great Empress,--Not a letter from you since your departure from
+ Strasbourg. You have visited Baden, Stuttgart and Munich without
+ writing us a word. That is neither kind nor affectionate....
+ Deign from the height of your grandeurs to bestow a thought upon
+ your slaves.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ [Illustration: FACSIMILE OF LETTER OF NAPOLEON]
+
+The profound _égoisme_ of Joséphine, and the affectionate kindness
+of Napoleon, were never displayed more clearly than during this
+separation of three months. While the Emperor was risking his life
+and his fortunes on the snow-bound plains of Moravia, Joséphine was
+amusing herself like a débutante at the brilliant Courts of the South
+German princes, without a thought for any one but herself. By her
+indifference and her infidelities she had long since killed the early
+passionate devotion of her husband, and the day was not far distant
+when reasons of State would force him to stifle the feelings of tender
+affection which still bound him to Joséphine, and reluctantly decide
+upon a divorce.
+
+Finally Joséphine finds time to write, and pleads illness as the reason
+for her silence. Napoleon immediately replies in a tone of tender
+solicitude:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Munich_
+
+ SCHŒNBRUNN (VIENNA), 20 December
+
+ I have just received your letter of the 25 Frimaire (16
+ December). I am worried to learn that you are indisposed. It
+ is not well to travel a hundred leagues at this season. I do
+ not know what I shall do: it all depends on events; I have no
+ volition; I await the issue. Remain at Munich. Have a good
+ time: it is not difficult amidst such society, and in so fine a
+ country. I am myself quite busy. In several days I shall have
+ reached a decision. Adieu, mon amie. A thousand loving thoughts.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+On the last day of December, at one-forty-five in the morning, Napoleon
+entered Munich under a triumphal arch. The following day the Elector
+was proclaimed King of Bavaria. The Treaty of Presburg, signed on
+the 26 December, gave to Bavaria, Würtemberg and Baden considerable
+increases of territory, also to the two electors the title of king, and
+Napoleon had determined that these aggrandizements should be paid for
+by three marriages: that of his step-son Eugène with the Princesse
+Augusta of Bavaria; that of Prince Charles of Baden with Joséphine’s
+cousin, Stéphanie de Beauharnais; and finally that of his brother
+Jérôme with the Princesse Catherine of Würtemberg.
+
+Augusta was the only daughter of Maximilian, the new King of Bavaria,
+by his first wife. After her death he had married Caroline, the sister
+of Charles of Baden, to whom Augusta was now betrothed. The Wittelsbach
+family, one of the oldest and most distinguished in Europe, had ruled
+in Bavaria for eight centuries. But Maximilian had become Elector only
+a few years before, upon the extinction of the senior ruling lines of
+the family. Belonging to the cadet branch, and having no fortune, in
+his youth, before the Revolution, he had served in the French army, and
+commanded the Regiment of Alsace. The happiest days of his life had
+been passed in France, and he was very French in his sympathies. During
+the Austrian war his troops had fought with the Grand Army, and the
+Emperor now repaid his loyalty by raising him to the royal dignity.
+
+The Margrave of Baden, then seventy-seven years of age, had lost
+his only son, and his heir was his grandson, Charles, a youth of
+twenty-two. One of the sisters of this young prince had married
+Alexander, the Czar of Russia, with whom Napoleon was still at war;
+another was the second wife of Maximilian, of whose daughter, Augusta,
+Prince Charles was himself the fiancé. Here indeed was a matrimonial
+tangle which it required all of the skill of Napoleon to unravel.
+
+For some time past the Emperor had begun to lay plans for alliances
+with the reigning houses of Europe. With no children of his own,
+three of his brothers already married, and Jérôme for the moment
+unavailable, he had been obliged to fall back on the family of
+Joséphine. As early as the month of July 1804 he had charged his
+minister in Bavaria to make inquiries about the young daughter of the
+Elector, and let him know if there were any projects for her marriage.
+At that time Napoleon’s plans were all in the air, but a year later
+they were definitely fixed. At Boulogne, in September 1805, he gave
+instructions to M. de Thiard, one of his chamberlains, to proceed to
+Munich and open negotiations. At the very outset Thiard encountered
+the obstacles already mentioned. The Elector, with all his French
+sympathies, could not undertake lightly to offend so many powerful
+dames, among whom the Emperor had few friends. To break alliances
+already projected, in order to conclude one with the “Corsican
+adventurer,” was a difficult proposition. Another serious obstacle was
+the attachment which the young Princesse Augusta had formed for her
+fiancé.
+
+Talleyrand, tired of seeing the negotiations drag along, and realizing
+the powerful effect of the Emperor’s victories, now ordered Thiard
+to go directly to the Elector, and officially demand the alliance.
+“The Emperor,” he wrote, “has no prince of his name available. Young
+Beauharnais is free.... Brother-in-law of an imperial prince, uncle of
+the one who will probably be called to the succession, step-son of the
+reigning Emperor, only son of the Empress, there is dignity for you!”
+Then he drives home his argument with the words: “It is not necessary
+for me to analyze the consequences, and to apply them, in order to be
+understood by the Elector of Bavaria.”
+
+It was not necessary, however, for Thiard to use these instructions,
+as the Elector had already reached a decision and sent his minister to
+see the Emperor at Linz, where all the arrangements were made on the 5
+November.
+
+But Napoleon was well aware that it was one thing to convince men,
+and quite another to win women to his cause: for this he counted on
+Joséphine. Ten days later he sent the Empress instructions to leave her
+brilliant Court at Strasbourg and proceed to Munich.
+
+When Joséphine reached Munich the first week in December, she found the
+young princesse far from ready to carry out the agreements which her
+father had made for her at Linz a month before. In spite of all the
+charms of Joséphine, she continued to refuse to break her engagement to
+Charles. Affairs were in this state when Duroc arrived from Vienna on
+the 21 December, to present the official demand. In his letter to the
+Elector, the Emperor insisted that the arrangements made at Linz should
+be carried out, and expressed his wish “to see the marriage celebrated
+at the same moment as the conclusion of the general peace, which will
+certainly be signed within a fortnight.”
+
+On Christmas day, the eve of the conclusion of the treaty at Presburg,
+the Elector, to avoid a “painful explanation,” writes his daughter:
+
+“If there were a glimmer of hope, my dear Augusta, that you could ever
+wed Charles, I should not beg you on my knees to give him up; still
+less should I insist that you give your hand to the future King of
+Italy if this crown were not to be guaranteed by the Powers at the
+conclusion of the peace, and if I were not convinced of all the good
+qualities of Prince Eugène, who has everything to render you happy....
+Reflect, dear Augusta, that a refusal will make the Emperor as much our
+enemy as he has been until now the friend of our House.”
+
+“My very dear and tender Father,” Augusta replied, “I am forced to
+break the pledge which I have given to Prince Charles of Baden: I
+consent, as much as that costs me, if the repose of a dear father and
+the happiness of a people depend upon it; but I am not willing to give
+my hand to Prince Eugène if peace is not concluded and if he is not
+recognized as King of Italy.”
+
+The Emperor had not yet informed the Viceroy of his plans, but Eugène
+had no doubt been notified by his mother, and had raised no objections.
+The day after his arrival at Munich Napoleon had a long talk with
+Augusta, and flattered himself that she was reconciled to the marriage.
+He therefore wrote Eugène that the matter was all arranged. Affairs of
+State urgently demanded the presence of the Emperor at Paris, and he
+wanted to set out as soon as the contract was signed, leaving Joséphine
+to represent him at the wedding. But three days passed, and nothing
+was done about the contract. On the night of the third the Emperor
+called Duroc and told him that the contract must be signed at noon the
+next day, and that it must provide for the marriage on the fifteenth.
+Accordingly the papers were signed. At the same time the Emperor wrote
+Eugène to make haste to arrive as soon as possible so as to be certain
+to find him at Munich. Napoleon had learned that the Queen of Bavaria
+was trying to delay matters, with the idea of breaking off the marriage
+as soon as he left for Paris. Augusta was doing her part by pretending
+a sudden indisposition, but was quickly cured when the Emperor sent his
+personal physician to see her.
+
+Napoleon made up his mind that it was necessary for him to remain at
+Munich until after the ceremony. In the meantime he left nothing undone
+to remove the petty obstacles to the marriage. He ordered from Paris,
+as a wedding present, magnificent jewels, costing over two hundred
+thousand francs; and directed each of his brothers and sisters to send
+gifts to the value of at least fifteen or twenty thousand francs.
+
+The opposition of the Queen was the most difficult thing to overcome,
+for she had two special grievances: the execution of the Duc d’Enghien
+and the breaking of the engagement with Prince Charles. Napoleon was
+assiduous in his attentions to the Queen, and was so devoted that he
+even aroused the jealousy of Joséphine. The Queen was not over thirty;
+she had beautiful eyes, a countenance full of life, and a fine figure.
+What woman could resist the attentions of a man as fascinating as
+Napoleon, when he wished to please!
+
+Meanwhile Eugène had made haste. Leaving Padua on the sixth, the day he
+received the Emperor’s letter, he crossed the mountains on the eighth,
+and reached Munich two days later. At this time Eugène was twenty-four
+years of age. Without being in any way remarkable, his face was
+pleasing; he was well built, with a good figure, of medium height. He
+excelled in all physical exercises, and like his father was a beautiful
+dancer. Kind, frank, simple in his manners, without hauteur, he was
+affable with everybody. He had a sunny disposition and was always gay.
+Napoleon was very fond of him and treated him like a son. As soon as he
+saw Eugène, the Emperor ordered him to shave off his moustache, which
+might displease the princesse.
+
+At the time of her marriage, Augusta was only seventeen. She was tall,
+well formed, with a sylph-like figure, and a countenance in which
+kindness was mingled with dignity. She had received an excellent
+education, and had a good head for affairs, as plainly appears in her
+letter to her father.
+
+Eugène showed all of his mother’s _savoir faire_ in his attentions
+to his future wife, and courted her as warmly as if their marriage were
+not already arranged. The fears of the young princesse soon turned to
+joy, and what was to have been a _mariage de convenance_ became a
+real love-match.
+
+The contract was signed on the 13 January in the grand gallery of
+the Royal Palace. The exact terms never have become public, as the
+contract was not read as usual, and the copy which Napoleon sent Joseph
+for deposit in the archives of the Empire was afterwards withdrawn
+by order of the Emperor. It is known, however, that Napoleon refused
+absolutely to appoint Eugène King of Italy, or even to name him as heir
+to the throne except in case of failure of his own “children, natural
+and legitimate.” Eugène henceforth was termed by the Emperor _mon
+fils_, instead of _mon cousin_; he had the qualification of
+Imperial and Royal Highness; he passed the first after the Emperor,
+before Joseph and Louis. In the Imperial Almanac he was called the
+“adopted son of the Emperor.”
+
+After the contract was signed, Maret, the Secretary of State,
+performed the civil marriage, which he really was not legally qualified
+to do. The following day, the 14 January 1806, the religious ceremony
+was celebrated in the Royal Chapel.
+
+Thus Napoleon has forced his entrance into the family of European
+sovereigns, by an alliance with the ancient House of Wittelsbach, which
+claims Charlemagne for its founder, and so, through his adopted son,
+becomes related to most of the reigning families.
+
+This first attempt of Napoleon as a match-maker was a great success.
+Eugène and Augusta lived very happily together, and after the fall of
+the Empire she resisted all the entreaties of her family to abandon
+her husband. Their six children all made distinguished marriages.
+Eugène, the eldest son, married the Queen of Portugal, and his brother
+Max espoused a daughter of the Czar of Russia. Of the four daughters,
+Joséphine married the Crown Prince of Sweden; Eugénie, a Hohenzollern
+prince; Amélie, the first Emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro; and the
+youngest daughter, the Count of Würtemberg.
+
+A week after the wedding Prince Eugène and his wife left Munich for
+Milan. Napoleon and Joséphine were already on their way to Paris, where
+they arrived on the night of the 26 January.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+At Paris the news of the victory of Austerlitz had been received with
+transports of joy. Even Madame de Rémusat, so severe, so implacable for
+Napoleon, in her _Mémoires_ composed after the Restoration, wrote
+her husband on the 18 December 1805: “You cannot imagine how every head
+is turned. Every one sings the praises of the Emperor.... I was so
+wrought up that I think, if the Emperor had appeared at that moment, I
+should have thrown myself upon his neck, ready afterwards to beg pardon
+at his feet.”
+
+The prolongation of the Emperor’s stay at Munich had only served to
+increase the impatience of the Parisians, and had well prepared the
+stage for his return. The Bank of France, to celebrate the occasion,
+resumed specie payments. On the 4 February there was a gala performance
+at the Opéra. When Napoleon entered with Joséphine during the second
+act, the performance was interrupted while the whole audience arose and
+cheered.
+
+Soon after his return to Paris the Emperor carried out the second part
+of his scheme for alliances with the royal families of Europe. On the 8
+April 1806, in the chapel of the Tuileries, was celebrated with great
+pomp the marriage of Charles of Baden and Stéphanie de Beauharnais.
+
+Prince Charles, then twenty-three years of age, without being exactly
+ugly, had a very plain face; his pink and white complexion and his
+chubby figure gave him the appearance of a Dutch doll; and his extreme
+timidity contributed an air of awkwardness. But these apparent defects
+were only superficial; on better acquaintance one could appreciate
+the rare and excellent qualities of his heart, the refinement of his
+feelings. He had that true spirit of kindness which inspires more
+affection than qualities more brilliant.
+
+Stéphanie, who was born in Paris on the 28 August 1789, was a distant
+cousin of Joséphine’s first husband, Alexandre de Beauharnais.
+Abandoned by her father, Comte Claude de Beauharnais, when he
+emigrated at the beginning of the Revolution, the child had owed her
+existence to the charity of friends. At the end of 1804 she was brought
+to Paris and placed in the school of Madame Campan by the express
+orders of the Emperor, who was indignant at Joséphine’s treatment of
+her niece _à la mode de Bretagne_. On his return to Paris after
+the Austerlitz campaign, Napoleon installed the young girl in the
+Tuileries, and soon became very much interested in her. With her golden
+hair, her blue eyes, her slight form, her free ways, this girl of
+sixteen greatly attracted the Emperor, and especially so because she
+showed not the slightest timidity in his presence. The first week in
+March she was formally adopted by the Emperor, who gave her a dot of a
+million and a half on the day of her marriage, besides a magnificent
+collection of jewels, and a trousseau, selected by Joséphine, which was
+in excellent taste and of rare elegance.
+
+This marriage, made under such auspicious circumstances, seemed to
+promise a happy future, but these hopes were disappointed, at least at
+first. Charles, on account of his timidity, failed to win the love of
+his wife, who was too young and too frivolous to appreciate his really
+fine qualities. But, as the old French proverb says, _tout vient à
+point à qui sait attendre_ (everything comes to him who waits). The
+eyes of Stéphanie were finally opened, and she came to love her husband
+very dearly. So this union ended, as so many others begin, in perfect
+happiness. Their greatest trial was the loss of their two sons, who
+died soon after birth. Both of them still young, Charles and his wife
+had every reason to hope for another son, but it was not to be. In
+December 1818 Charles died suddenly at the age of thirty-five. This
+made a great change in the position of Stéphanie. The previous year,
+Charles had issued a pragmatic sanction insuring the succession to the
+crown to the counts of Hochberg, the issue of a morganatic marriage
+between his grandfather, the Grand Duke Charles Frederick, and the
+Countess Hochberg.
+
+Stéphanie won the warm affections of the grand-ducal family and of
+her subjects. Her death in 1860, during the Second Empire, was deeply
+regretted in Baden, as well as at Paris, where she was a frequent
+visitor. Her eldest daughter, Louise, married Prince Gustave de Wasa,
+and became the mother of the Queen of Saxony; the second, Joséphine,
+married Prince Charles of Hohenzollern, and was the mother of the
+first King of Roumania, as well as of that prince who in 1870 was
+the indirect cause of the Franco-German war. Prince Louis-Napoleon
+wanted to marry the youngest daughter, but Stéphanie thought that her
+visionary cousin was not a good match for her child, so Marie became
+Duchess of Hamilton instead of Empress of the French!
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY
+
+ 1806
+
+ QUEEN HORTENSE
+
+ Louis Proclaimed King of Holland--Hortense’s Unhappy Married
+ Life--Birth of Napoleon-Charles--Louis Buys Saint-Leu--Birth of
+ Napoleon-Louis--Louis and Hortense at The Hague--Joséphine at
+ Mayence--The Campaign of Jena--Napoleon’s Letters--The Emperor
+ at Berlin--The Hatzfeld Episode--Prussia Overwhelmed--The
+ Emperor in Poland--He Refuses to Allow Joséphine to Join
+ Him--Battle of Pultusk
+
+
+On Thursday the 5 June 1806 at the Tuileries Louis Bonaparte was
+proclaimed King of Holland. He seems to have accepted his new dignity
+with much reluctance, not that he felt unequal to the position--for
+he believed himself superior to any task--but because he feared the
+dominating force of his brother. That the Emperor, in sending Louis
+to Holland, intended to make that country in fact a part of the Grand
+Empire, clearly appears in his formal address. In effect he said to
+Louis: “You are first of all a Frenchman; you are Constable of the
+Empire; you are the guardian of my strong-places; the interest of
+France commands, you must obey.” Louis, in substance, replied: “I am a
+Hollander; the people who acclaim me look to me for their happiness.”
+
+ [Illustration: LOUIS, KING OF HOLLAND]
+
+If Louis was not fully satisfied, for her part Hortense was in despair.
+She felt that it was almost an act of suicide for her to leave Paris
+to go to this distant country, so cold and damp, to be shut up with a
+husband she detested.
+
+After their marriage in January 1802 Louis and Hortense had resided in
+the little hôtel loaned them by Napoleon in the Rue de la Victoire.
+Almost from the first day they quarrelled over Joséphine, whom Louis
+disliked, and whom he wished as far as possible to keep separated
+from her daughter. He soon left Paris and was absent for many months.
+Practically abandoned by her husband the second month of her marriage,
+Hortense spent most of the spring and summer with Napoleon and
+Joséphine at the Tuileries and Malmaison. During the three weeks that
+her mother went to Plombières, Hortense did the honors of the Château.
+The situation was rather equivocal, and naturally gave rise to scandal.
+It was at this time that rumors were first circulated regarding the
+relations of Napoleon and Hortense. That there was no foundation for
+these reports may be stated most positively. Even Bourrienne, who
+cannot be accused of any great good-will towards Napoleon, declares:
+“I am happy to be able to give the most formal and positive denial
+to the infamous supposition that Bonaparte ever had for Hortense any
+other feelings than those of a step-father for a step-daughter. Authors
+without belief have attested without proofs not only the criminal
+liaison which they have imagined, but they have even gone so far as to
+say that Bonaparte was the father of the eldest son of Hortense. It is
+a lie, an infamous lie!”
+
+These reports, first put in circulation by the Royalists, were repeated
+by members of the Emperor’s own family, and soon reached his ears.
+Under the circumstances Napoleon thought it advisable for Hortense to
+have a permanent home of her own. The last of July, accordingly, he
+purchased in the name of Louis and Hortense, and presented to them, a
+fine mansion near their temporary residence. Here on the 10 October
+1802 was born their first child, Napoleon-Charles. In response to a
+formal order from his brother, Louis returned to Paris just in time to
+be present on the interesting occasion.
+
+The birth of this child brought about a temporary reconciliation
+between Hortense and her husband, but Louis soon became uneasy again
+and left Paris for another absence which lasted until September 1803.
+Then for a short time they lived together at Compiègne where his
+brigade was stationed.
+
+In the spring of 1804 Louis bought a large hôtel in Rue Cerutti, now
+Rue Laffitte, a most pretentious, but very gloomy house, without a ray
+of sunlight. At the same time he acquired at Saint-Leu, about twelve
+miles from Paris, a very beautiful country estate. For these two
+properties he paid approximately a million francs. Hortense spent the
+summer at Saint-Leu, which is very near Malmaison. On the 10 October
+1804 she returned to her Paris house, where on the following day
+was born her second son, Napoleon-Louis. This was the child who was
+baptized with so much pomp by the Pope himself at Saint-Cloud just a
+week before his return to Rome.
+
+During the campaign of Austerlitz, Louis was governor of Paris, and
+displayed so much zeal and activity in his new post that he won the
+enthusiastic approval of the Emperor, who always showed for him a
+strong partiality. After his great victory of the 2 December 1805,
+Napoleon began to carry out his projects for family alliances, and for
+the formation of a ring of buffer states surrounding the French Empire.
+Pursuant to this policy he arranged the two marriages spoken of above,
+and now he appointed Louis King of Holland.
+
+Under the orders of the Emperor, Louis should have set out for Holland
+at once, but upon one pretext or another he deferred his departure for
+a week. On the 18 June the new King and Queen of Holland arrived at
+The Hague, where they passed the night in the old royal villa known as
+the House in the Wood (_Huis ten Bosch_), about a mile and a half
+from the city. Five days later they made their solemn entry into the
+capital, escorted only by native troops.
+
+On the first day of July, Louis wrote the Emperor that as soon as his
+affairs were in good order he should leave The Hague for a month or six
+weeks to visit the baths. Exactly a month after his arrival, therefore,
+he set out for Wiesbaden accompanied by Hortense. Not satisfied with
+this course of baths, a month later he proceeded to Aix-la-Chapelle.
+While Prussia was arming, and Russia preparing for war, the new King of
+Holland continued conscientiously to take his _cure_.
+
+At first Hortense seemed quite contented at The Hague. Her vanity was
+flattered and her imagination carried away by the glamour of royalty.
+In departing for Wiesbaden she took with her the little crown-prince
+who was her favorite child, but left the younger boy in Holland. She
+was on better terms with her husband than at any period since their
+marriage. She was also looking forward to going to Paris for the fête
+of the Emperor, when she expected to meet Eugène--“only to think of it
+was happiness.”
+
+ * * * * *
+
+At daybreak on Thursday the 25 September 1806, accompanied by
+Joséphine, the Emperor left Saint-Cloud to put himself at the head
+of his army. They dined at Châlons, and continued their route during
+the night. At two o’clock the next afternoon they reached Metz, where
+the Emperor passed six hours in inspecting the fortifications. At ten
+o’clock they resumed their journey, and arrived at Mayence on the
+morning of the 28 September.
+
+It is not easy to explain why Joséphine wanted to accompany Napoleon
+to Mayence and take up her residence there during the campaign. The
+Emperor certainly wished her to remain at the capital and fulfill her
+obligations there. Her thought seems to have been to keep as near as
+possible to Napoleon, in the hope that he would send for her, as at
+Strasbourg, as soon as his affairs would permit.
+
+Napoleon remained only four days at Mayence, leaving on the evening
+of the first of October. When the hour for departure came he embraced
+Joséphine, who was in tears, and did not seem able to tear himself away
+from her. With one arm around his wife, he drew Talleyrand to him with
+the other, and cried: “It is very hard to leave the two persons that
+you love the most!” Then, after once more embracing Joséphine very
+tenderly, he departed.
+
+Hortense and Stéphanie both came to Mayence to keep Joséphine company.
+The two cousins were not sorry to be separated for a time from their
+uncongenial husbands. As at Strasbourg the previous year, Joséphine
+held a miniature court, and received the homage of the princes of the
+Confederation of the Rhine.
+
+The sadness of Napoleon was not of long duration: once more in his
+element, at the head of his troops, he regained his habitual composure.
+As usual his correspondence kept Joséphine fully informed of his
+movements:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ BAMBERG, 7 October 1806
+
+ I leave to-night for Cronach. My whole army is on the march.
+ All goes well; my health is perfect. I have not yet received
+ any letter from you, but have heard from Eugène and Hortense.
+ Stéphanie must be with you. Her husband, who wishes to take part
+ in the campaign, is with me. Adieu, a thousand kisses and good
+ health.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ GERA, 2 A.M., 13 October 1806
+
+ My affairs are going well, and everything as I would wish.
+ With God’s help, in a few days, I think that matters will
+ take a very bad turn for the poor King of Prussia, whom I
+ pity personally, because he is good. The Queen is at Erfurt
+ with him. If she desires to see a battle she will have that
+ cruel pleasure. I am in splendid health; I have put on flesh
+ since my departure; nevertheless I personally cover twenty to
+ twenty-five leagues a day, on horseback, in carriage, in every
+ way. I retire at eight and get up midnight. I often think that
+ you are not yet in bed. Ever thine.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ JENA, 3 A.M., 15 October 1806
+
+ I have conducted some fine manœuvres against the Prussians. I
+ gained a great victory yesterday. They had 150,000 men; I have
+ taken 20,000 prisoners, 100 cannon, and some flags. I was near
+ to the King of Prussia, and just failed to capture him and the
+ Queen. I have been at my bivouac for two hours. I am very well.
+ Adieu, mon amie; take care of yourself, and love me. If Hortense
+ is at Mayence, kiss her for me, also Napoleon and the little one.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ MAR, 5 P.M., 16 October 1806
+
+ Monsieur Talleyrand will have shown you the bulletin: in it you
+ will have perceived my success. Everything has turned out as I
+ planned: never was an army defeated worse, nor more completely
+ destroyed. It only remains for me to say that I am well and that
+ the fatigue, the bivouac, the night-watches have fattened me.
+ Adieu, ma bonne amie. A thousand best wishes to Hortense and to
+ the big M. Napoleon.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ POTSDAM, 24 October 1806
+
+ I am here since yesterday, and remain here to-day. I continue
+ to be satisfied with my affairs. My health is good; the weather
+ very fine. I find Sans-Souci very agreeable. Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+At Sans-Souci the Emperor found the chamber of the great Frederick in
+the same condition that he left it at the time of his death, and still
+cared for by one of his old servants. On Sunday he visited the Garrison
+Church, where in a vault under the severely plain Lutheran pulpit is
+the marble sarcophagus which contains the ashes of the King. He ordered
+sent to the Hôtel des Invalides at Paris the sword and hat and sash of
+the great warrior which lay upon his tomb. Departing now for the first
+time from his usual practice, on Monday the 27 October Napoleon entered
+Berlin in triumph and took up his residence in the Royal Palace.
+
+Meanwhile, at Mayence, Joséphine was sad and uneasy because the Emperor
+still failed to send for her. Napoleon writes:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ BERLIN, 1 November 1806
+
+ Talleyrand has arrived, mon amie, and tells me that you do
+ nothing but cry. What then do you wish? You have your daughter,
+ your grandchildren, and good news; these certainly should be
+ reasons enough to feel contented and happy. The weather here is
+ superb; during the whole campaign not a single drop of rain has
+ fallen. I am in excellent health and all goes well....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+Napoleon, who rightly held Queen Louisa largely responsible for the
+war, and for the disasters which had overwhelmed her people, in his
+bulletins had referred to the unfortunate woman in terms which were
+hardly chivalrous. Joséphine was struck by his lack of delicacy, and
+ventured to reproach him for his references to the Queen. This called
+forth the following reply:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ BERLIN, 6 November 1806
+
+ I have received your letter in which you seem to be displeased
+ because I have spoken disparagingly of women. It is true that
+ I detest meddlesome women above everything. I am accustomed
+ to women who are kind, sweet and winning: those are the ones
+ I like. If they have spoiled me, it is not my fault but your
+ own. Besides, you will see that I have been very good for one
+ who proved herself sweet and reasonable. When I showed Madame
+ Hatzfeld her husband’s letter, she said to me with sobs, and
+ great simplicity, “It is indeed his handwriting!” When she was
+ reading it her accent went to my heart: she troubled me. I said
+ to her: “Very well, Madame, throw the letter into the fire; I
+ shall no longer have it in my power to punish your husband.” She
+ burned the letter and seemed very happy. Since then her husband
+ is entirely tranquil: two hours later he would have been lost.
+ You see then that I like women who are good, sweet, and naïve,
+ for they are the only ones who resemble you. Adieu, mon amie. I
+ am well.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+To explain this episode, it should be stated that Prince de Hatzfeld,
+the Prussian governor of Berlin, had been allowed to retain his
+position upon his promise, under oath, that he would attend solely
+to the safety and welfare of the capital. A letter from him had been
+seized, in which he gave information of the positions of the French
+army around Berlin. This, by the laws of war, was military treason, and
+the penalty was death, if found guilty by a military commission.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+This short campaign is without parallel even in Napoleon’s marvellous
+career. The pursuit of the defeated army by Murat was the most
+remarkable on record. With his cavalry, in three weeks he literally
+galloped from the Saale to the Baltic, sweeping up the remnants of the
+Prussian army and capturing the fortresses as he passed.
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ BERLIN, 9 November 1806
+
+ Ma bonne amie, I have good news to tell thee. Magdebourg has
+ surrendered, and the 7 November I captured at Lubeck 20,000 men
+ who escaped a week ago. Thus the whole army is taken: Prussia
+ has left only 20,000 men, beyond the Vistula. Several of my army
+ corps are in Poland. I still remain at Berlin. I am quite well.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ BERLIN, 16 November 1806
+
+ I have thy letter of the 11 November. I see with satisfaction
+ that my sentiments give thee pleasure. Thou art wrong to think
+ that they are flattering: I have spoken of thee as I see thee. I
+ am sorry to learn that thou art bored at Mayence. If the journey
+ were not so long it would be possible for thee to come here,
+ for there is no longer any enemy: he is beyond the Vistula, 120
+ leagues from here. I will wait to hear what you think of it. I
+ should also be very glad to see M. Napoleon. Adieu, ma bonne
+ amie. Tout à toi. My affairs will not yet permit me to return to
+ Paris.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+In his final letter from Berlin, on the 22 November, Napoleon wrote
+Joséphine that he would make up his mind in a few days either to send
+for her or to have her return to Paris. Four days later, from Kustrin,
+he told her to be ready to start, and that he would let her know in two
+days if she could come.
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ MESERITZ, 27 November 1806
+
+ I am going to make a tour in Poland: this is the first city.
+ This evening I shall be at Posen, after which I will call you to
+ Berlin, in order that you may arrive the same day as myself. My
+ health is good; the weather rather bad: it has rained for three
+ days. My affairs go well: the Russians are in flight.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ POSEN, 29 November 1806
+
+ I am at Posen, the capital of Great Poland. Cold weather has
+ set in. My health is good. I am going to make a little trip in
+ Poland. My troops are at the gates of Warsaw....
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ POSEN, 2 December 1806
+
+ To-day is the anniversary of Austerlitz. I attended a ball in
+ the city. It is raining. I am well. I love and long for thee.
+ My troops are at Warsaw. It is not yet cold. All these Polish
+ women are like French women, but there is only one woman for me.
+ Dost thou know her? I could easily paint her portrait, but I
+ should make it so flattering that you would hardly recognize it;
+ nevertheless, to tell the truth, my heart would only have kind
+ things to say. The nights are long, all alone.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The following day, from the same place, Napoleon wrote two long
+letters, one at noon, and the other at six o’clock:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ POSEN, 3 December 1806
+
+ I am in receipt of your letter of the 26 November, in which I
+ note two things: You say that I do not read your letters--you
+ are entirely wrong. I am vexed with you for having such a wrong
+ idea. You tell me that it may have come from some dream, and you
+ add that you are not jealous. I have observed for a long time
+ that persons who lose their temper always claim that they are
+ not mad, that those who are afraid often say that they have no
+ fear--you are therefore convicted of jealousy: I am delighted!
+ Nevertheless you are wrong. Nothing could be further from my
+ thoughts: in the wastes of Poland one thinks little of the fair
+ sex. Yesterday I gave a ball for the provincial nobility: the
+ women are quite pretty, quite luxurious, quite well-dressed,
+ even in Parisian style.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ POSEN, 3 December 1806
+
+ I have your letter of the 27 November, from which I see that
+ your little head is turned. I thought of the verse: _Désir
+ de femme est un feu qui dévore_. You must calm yourself. I
+ have written you that I was in Poland, that as soon as winter
+ quarters are settled, you can come: you must therefore wait
+ several days. The greater one is, the less volition he has:
+ he is the slave of events and circumstances. You can go to
+ Frankfort and Darmstadt. In a few days I expect to send for you,
+ but it is necessary for events to be favorable. The warmth of
+ your letter shows me that you pretty women have no limitations:
+ what you wish, must be; but I am forced to admit that I am the
+ greatest of slaves: my master has no bowels of pity, and this
+ master is the course of events. Adieu, mon amie; keep well.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The Emperor remained at Posen two weeks longer, and during that period
+he wrote Joséphine again four times. Her jealousy was far from being
+calmed by his letters, but to show her affection, and her thought of
+him “alone” during the “long nights,” she sent him a rug as a present.
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ POSEN, 9 December 1806
+
+ I have your letter of the first, and am glad to see that you are
+ happier; also that the Queen of Holland wants to come with you.
+ I am late in giving the order, but you must still wait several
+ days. Everything goes well. Adieu, mon amie. I love thee and
+ wish to see thee happy.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ POSEN, 10 December 1806
+
+ An officer has brought me a rug from thee. It is a little short
+ and narrow, but I thank thee none the less. I am quite well. The
+ weather is very changeable. My affairs are going quite well. I
+ love thee, and much desire thee. Adieu, mon amie. I shall be as
+ happy to send for thee, as thou to come. Tout à toi. A kiss for
+ Hortense, Stéphanie, and Napoleon.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+ POSEN, 12 December 1806
+
+ I have received no letters from you, but I know that you are
+ well. My health is good; the weather very mild. The winter
+ season has not yet begun, but the roads are bad in a country
+ where there are no paved highways. Hortense will then come with
+ Napoleon: I am delighted! I am only waiting for matters to be in
+ shape for me to have you come. I have made peace with Saxony.
+ The Elector becomes King, and joins the Confederation. Adieu, my
+ beloved Joséphine.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ POSEN, 15 December 1806
+
+ I am leaving for Warsaw, but shall be back in a fortnight: I
+ hope then to be able to send for you. However, if my stay is
+ prolonged I should be glad to have you return to Paris, where
+ your presence is much desired. You know well that I am governed
+ by circumstances. My health is very good--never better.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The Emperor left Posen before daybreak on the 16 December and arrived
+at Warsaw at one o’clock on the morning of the third day, having made
+two stops en route. Learning that the Russian army was at Pultusk,
+about thirty miles to the north, he at once headed his corps in that
+direction, and started for the front. The battle fought on the 26
+December proved indecisive. The French, under the command of Lannes,
+were inferior in numbers, and could make little progress against the
+stubborn resistance of the Russians. The weather was frightful, and the
+roads almost impassable. The short day was made even shorter by the
+premature darkness due to the stormy cloudy weather. The Emperor, with
+his Guard, lost the way, and arrived on the field of battle long after
+the affair was over. In three letters to Joséphine, Napoleon tells of
+his arrival at Warsaw and the events which followed:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ WARSAW, 20 December 1806
+
+ I have no news of you. I am well. I have been here two days. My
+ affairs go well. The weather is very mild, and even a little
+ moist. As yet we have had no frost: the season is like October.
+ Adieu, ma bonne amie. I am very anxious to see thee; in five or
+ six days I hope to send for thee.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ GOLYMINE, 29 December 1806
+
+ I send you only a line. I am in a miserable barn. I have
+ defeated the Russians; I have taken 30 cannon, their baggage,
+ and 6000 prisoners. The weather is horrible: it rains, and we
+ are in mud up to our knees. In two days I shall be back at
+ Warsaw, and will write thee.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ PULTUSK, 31 December 1806
+
+ I had a good laugh over your last letters. You have formed an
+ idea of the fair ones of Poland which they little deserve.... I
+ received your last letter in a wretched barn, where there was
+ nothing but mud and wind, with straw for a bed. To-morrow I
+ shall be at Warsaw. I think that all is over for this year: the
+ army is going into winter quarters.
+
+ Tout à toi
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
+
+ 1807
+
+ MADAME WALEWSKA
+
+ Napoleon’s First Meeting with Marie Walewska--Beginning of
+ Their Long Liaison--The Emperor Orders Joséphine to Return to
+ Paris--The Terrible Battle of Eylau--Napoleon Tries to Minimize
+ His Losses--Headquarters at Osterode--Napoleon’s Letter to
+ Joseph--His Brief Letters to Joséphine--The Empress Returns to
+ Paris--Her Cordial Welcome--Her Loneliness--Birth of Her First
+ Granddaughter--Napoleon Moves to Finckenstein--He Is Joined by
+ Madame Walewska--The Emperor Dictates Regarding Joséphine’s
+ Friends
+
+
+On the first day of the new year, when the Emperor was returning from
+Pultusk to Warsaw, he stopped to change horses at the gate of the
+little city of Bronie. At that time Napoleon was the idol of the Poles,
+who hoped through him to secure their independence, and an enthusiastic
+crowd had gathered to welcome the “liberator.” Duroc descended from
+the carriage, and with difficulty pushed his way through the throng.
+Some one touched his arm, and he turned to look into the large innocent
+blue eyes of a young girl who seemed almost a child. Her beautiful
+face, fresh as a rose, was flushed with excitement; her figure was
+small, but perfectly proportioned. She was very simply dressed, and
+wore a black hat, with a heavy veil which almost concealed her blond
+hair. As Duroc at a glance took in these details, a sweet voice said
+to him in perfect French: “Monsieur, can you not arrange for me to
+speak a moment to the Emperor?” Duroc conducted her to the door of the
+carriage, and said to the Emperor: “Sire, here is a lady who has braved
+all of the dangers of the crowd for you.” Napoleon bowed and started to
+address her, but she did not allow him to finish. Carried away by her
+enthusiasm she wished him a thousand welcomes to her native land, and
+expressed her gratitude for what he had done to free it from the yoke
+of Russia.
+
+Napoleon was so struck with her beauty that he ordered Duroc to find
+out the name of the “belle inconnue.” After many inquiries the marshal
+learned that her name was Marie Walewska. Of an old but ruined Polish
+family, two years before, at the age of sixteen, she had married the
+chief of one of the most illustrious houses of Poland, a man seventy
+years of age, with a grandchild nine years older than herself.
+
+Comte Walewski, who was as intensely patriotic as his young wife,
+was then staying at his town-house in Warsaw. The Emperor requested
+Prince Poniatowski, in whose palace he was residing, to give a ball,
+and invite the comte and his wife to be present. The prince called in
+person to extend this invitation. Marie was frightened at this special
+mark of attention, and at first refused to accept, but finally yielded
+to the entreaties of her husband.
+
+At the ball the Emperor paid her many compliments, and the following
+day wrote her in terms of warm but respectful admiration. He also sent
+her very handsome presents; but she refused to answer his letters
+or accept his gifts. Her coldness only increased the ardor of the
+Emperor, who never yet had met such opposition to his desires. Yielding
+finally to the importunities of all around her--the chief magistrates
+of Poland, her family, even her husband--Marie accepted a rendez-vous.
+She was made to believe that the fate of her country was in her hands,
+that Heaven had chosen her to be the instrument of reëstablishing the
+ancient glory of Poland.
+
+Up to this time Napoleon’s _affaires d’amour_ had been of short
+duration, but this attachment was to end only with his departure for
+Saint Helena. With the exception of Joséphine, Marie Walewska was the
+only great love of his life.
+
+During the winter Napoleon continued to write Joséphine as frequently
+as before, but a change will be noted in the tone of his letters, which
+must have been perceived at once by a woman as jealous and suspicious
+as Joséphine:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Mayence_
+
+ WARSAW, 3 January 1807
+
+ I have received your letter, mon amie. Your grief has moved me,
+ but we must submit to circumstances. There are too many lands to
+ traverse between Mayence and Warsaw. Before writing you to come,
+ you must wait until I am able to return to Berlin. Although the
+ defeated enemy is withdrawing, there are many matters for me
+ to settle here. I am strongly of the opinion that you ought to
+ return to Paris, where you are needed.... I am well, but the
+ weather is bad. I dearly love thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+ WARSAW, 7 January 1807
+
+ Mon amie, I am touched by all that you say to me; but the season
+ is cold, the roads are very bad, and hardly safe; I cannot
+ consent therefore to expose you to so much fatigue and danger.
+ Return to Paris for the winter. Go to the Tuileries; give
+ receptions, and lead the same life that you usually do when I am
+ there. This is my wish. Perhaps I shall soon rejoin you there;
+ but you must certainly give up the idea of travelling three
+ hundred leagues at this season, across a hostile country, upon
+ the rear of the army. Believe that it costs me more than you to
+ delay by several weeks the happiness of seeing you, but such is
+ the demand of circumstances and the advantage of affairs. Adieu,
+ ma bonne amie; be happy, and display character.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+In eight letters which Napoleon wrote during the following three weeks
+there is only a repetition of the same words: The weather is too bad,
+the distances too great, and the roads too dangerous for me to consent
+to your making the journey; Paris demands your return, to give a little
+life to the capital; I forbid you to cry, or be sad and uneasy; I wish
+you to be amiable, gay and happy; you are very unjust to doubt my love
+and devotion!
+
+ * * * * *
+
+The winter was unusually mild for Poland, but the Emperor, whose troops
+were in winter quarters, did not expect the campaign to reopen before
+spring. In this he was doomed to disappointment: at the end of January
+the Russians began a forward movement, and Napoleon was forced to leave
+Warsaw to put himself at the head of his army.
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Paris_
+
+ WITTEMBERG, noon, 1 February 1807
+
+ Your letter of the 11 January from Mayence made me laugh. I am
+ to-day forty leagues from Warsaw. The weather is cold, but fine.
+ Adieu, mon amie; be happy; show character.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ EYLAU, 3 A.M., 9 February 1807
+
+ We had a great battle yesterday; the victory remained with me,
+ but my losses are very heavy. The losses of the enemy, which
+ are still greater, do not console me. Nevertheless I am writing
+ these few lines myself, although I am very tired, to tell you
+ that I am well, and that I love thee.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+In another letter, written at six o’clock on the night of the same day,
+and in four other letters sent during the week following, Napoleon
+gives further details of the battle. Both in his correspondence and in
+his bulletins he tries to minimize his losses, which had been enormous.
+He states that he took 40 cannon, 10 flags, 12,000 prisoners, and only
+lost 1600 killed, 3–4000 wounded. He says nothing of the vicissitudes
+of this terrible day, of this victory which was so nearly a defeat; of
+the terrible suffering of his army from cold and hunger; of regiments,
+and even entire army corps, wiped out; of the great personal danger
+which he had run in the cemetery when he was almost captured by the
+Russian grenadiers, and only saved by the valor of his Guard. He does
+not speak of the words wrung from his pale lips as the night fell on
+this field covered with dead and dying: “This sight is enough to
+inspire in princes the love of peace and the horror of war!” Well would
+it have been for Napoleon if he had taken these words to heart!
+
+After the battle the Emperor was too weak to follow up the retiring
+Russians, and was glad to put his troops again in winter quarters. He
+selected Osterode for his headquarters and here for weeks he shared
+all the privations of his men. During all this time his only residence
+was a miserable barn, and it was not until he moved to the castle
+of Finckenstein the first of April that his quarters became more
+comfortable.
+
+Napoleon’s letters to Joséphine from Osterode were cold, brief,
+commonplace, almost insignificant. He spoke of his health, the weather,
+and ended always with the injunction to be gay! A letter to his brother
+Joseph, under date of the first of March, gives a better idea of the
+horrors of this terrible winter campaign:
+
+ _To Joseph, at Paris_
+
+ The officers of the general staff have not had their clothes
+ off in two months, some in four; I myself have gone a fortnight
+ without removing my boots. We are surrounded with snow and mud;
+ without wine or eau-de-vie; with no bread, eating only meat and
+ potatoes; making long marches and counter-marches; fighting
+ usually with the bayonet, and obliged to drag the wounded in
+ sleighs, without cover, over a space of fifty leagues.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+In the eleven letters he sent to Joséphine from Osterode, Napoleon
+says, in substance:
+
+Endeavor to pass your time agreeably; do not worry.
+
+I am in a wretched village, where I shall still pass considerable time.
+I have never been in better health. I have ordered what you want for
+Malmaison. Be gay and happy: it is my wish.
+
+I am looking for the spring, which ought to come soon. I love thee, and
+wish to see thee gay and happy. They say many foolish things about the
+battle of Eylau; the bulletins tell all; the losses are exaggerated
+rather than under-stated.
+
+I learn that the gossip of your salon in Mayence has been renewed: make
+them stop talking.
+
+You should not go to a small box in a little theatre. That does not
+accord with your rank: attend only the four large theatres and always
+use the large box.
+
+To be agreeable to me you must live in all respects exactly as you do
+when I am in Paris. Grandeurs have their inconveniences: an empress
+cannot go to the same places as a private individual.
+
+Your letter grieves me. You must not die; you are in excellent health,
+and you have no reasonable ground of chagrin. You should go to
+Saint-Cloud for the month of May, but remain in Paris during April. You
+must not think of travelling this summer. I know how to do other things
+than make war, but duty is the first consideration. All my life I have
+sacrificed everything--tranquillity, self-interest, happiness--to my
+destiny.
+
+These fine phrases were far from satisfying Joséphine, who knew that
+her Napoleon, in spite of his pretended Spartan simplicity, sometimes
+gave himself distractions!
+
+For nearly four months at Mayence Joséphine had waited in vain for
+the permission of the Emperor to rejoin him. Finally, on the 3 January
+he had expressed his wish that she should return to Paris. This desire
+he reiterates in four other letters, and in more positive form. It was
+his letter of the eighteenth which decided her: “If you continue to
+cry, I shall believe you devoid of courage and character. I do not like
+cowards. An empress should have heart.” Nothing remained but to start.
+
+The brilliant winter of 1805, after the Coronation, had been followed
+by the two dead seasons of 1806 and 1807, and a Paris without a Court,
+without balls, fêtes or receptions, was very hard on the merchants, who
+complained bitterly. By order of the Emperor, the princes of the Empire
+had opened their houses, but this did not make up for the absence of
+the sovereigns.
+
+Leaving Mayence on the 26 January, the Empress spent the following
+night at Strasbourg, where a small fête had been improvised in her
+honor. The hall of the hôtel of the préfecture was brilliantly
+decorated. After a contredanse and a valse, the Empress made the
+round of the room, addressing with her usual grace and affability a
+pleasant word to each one of the ladies present. At an early hour on
+the following morning Joséphine resumed her route, and arrived at
+the Tuileries at eight o’clock on the night of the 31 January. Her
+return to the capital was announced the next day at noon by a salvo
+of artillery fired by the guns of the Invalides. A little fatigued by
+her journey, the Empress did not hold a reception until the fifth,
+when all the high officials of State called to render their homage. By
+Monge, president of the Senate, by Fontanes, president of the Corps
+Législatif, by the president of the Tribunal, the vicar-general of
+Notre-Dame, and the préfet de la Seine, she was welcomed in speeches
+almost as flattering as those usually addressed to the Emperor.
+
+In spite of all this adulation, more or less sincere, Joséphine was
+far from happy. She regretted the absence of her children, and of her
+husband; she was worried over the dangers which Napoleon was running in
+this distant campaign, and the reports of his liaison with the “belle
+Polonaise.” A few days after her return she wrote Hortense:
+
+ My journey has been happy, if I may so call it when it has
+ separated me so far from the Emperor. I have received five
+ letters from him since my departure. I want you to write me,
+ especially as you are not now near to console me. Let me
+ know how you are, also your husband and children. Although I
+ indeed receive more people here than at Mayence, my heart is
+ nevertheless very lonely, and, in writing, you will still keep
+ me company. Adieu, my dear daughter. I love and embrace you
+ tenderly.
+
+During the following month the heart of Joséphine was rejoiced by the
+news of the birth at Milan on the 17 March of a daughter to Augusta and
+Eugène, who was named Joséphine by order of the Emperor. This was the
+princesse who twenty years later married the son of Bernadotte, Oscar,
+crown-prince, and later King of Sweden. Joséphine longed to go to Italy
+to see her first granddaughter in her cradle, but feared to leave Paris
+without the permission of the Emperor. She wrote Hortense that Eugène
+was delighted at the birth of his daughter, but complained that he
+could hardly see her “as she slept all the time.”
+
+The first of April the Emperor changed his residence to Finckenstein
+where he occupied a fine château built by the governor of Frederick
+the Great. At this time it was the property of Comte de Dohna, grand
+master of the household of the King of Prussia. It is still owned by
+the same family, and at a recent date the room occupied by Napoleon
+was carefully preserved in the same condition. Here Napoleon was very
+comfortably installed, with his staff and his military family. An
+apartment adjoining his own was fitted up for Madame Walewska. She
+left at Warsaw her aged husband, whom she was never to see again, and
+spent three weeks with the Emperor. They took all of their meals alone,
+and were served by Constant, the valet de chambre of Napoleon. When
+the Emperor was not with her, Marie passed her time in reading, or in
+watching from the windows the parades in the court of the château,
+which were often commanded by the Emperor in person. She had a very
+sweet, even disposition, was always gay and full of life, and Napoleon
+became more attached to her every day.
+
+During the two months that he lived at Finckenstein, Napoleon as usual
+wrote Joséphine two or three times a week:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Paris_
+
+ FINCKENSTEIN, 2 April 1807
+
+ I have just moved my headquarters to a fine château, much like
+ that of Bessières, where there are many fireplaces. This is very
+ pleasant for me, as I often rise during the night, and enjoy
+ seeing the fire. My health is perfect. The weather is fine, but
+ still cold. The thermometer is at four to five degrees. Adieu,
+ mon amie.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+During the visit of Marie, the letters of Napoleon were even shorter
+and more commonplace. In them there were only a few lines about the
+weather, the temperature, the state of his health, and his desire to
+know that she was “gay and contented.” Alas! poor Joséphine, her days
+of happiness were about over.
+
+After the departure of his inamorata Napoleon’s correspondence once
+more becomes interesting:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Paris_
+
+ FINCKENSTEIN, 2 May 1807
+
+ Mon amie, I have your letter of the 23 April, and am glad to
+ see that you are well, also that you still love Malmaison. They
+ say that the arch-chancellor (Cambacérès) is in love. Is that a
+ joke, or is it true? It amuses me, but you have not said a word.
+ I am very well, and the weather is fine at last: springtime
+ appears and the leaves begin to push. Adieu, mon amie. A
+ thousand loving thoughts.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ FINCKENSTEIN, 10 May 1807
+
+ I have your letter. I do not know what you mean by ladies in
+ _correspondence_ with me. I love only my little Joséphine,
+ good, _boudeuse_ and capricious, who knows how to quarrel
+ gracefully, as she does everything else, for she is always
+ amiable--except when she is jealous: then she becomes a regular
+ little devil. But let us return to these ladies. If I must
+ occupy myself with some one among them I assure you that I
+ should wish them to be pretty rose-buds. Are those of whom you
+ speak in this class?
+
+ I wish you never to dine except with persons who have dined with
+ me; that your list should be the same for your assemblies; that
+ you never admit at Malmaison, in your inner life, ambassadors
+ and strangers. If you act otherwise, you will displease me.
+ Finally, do not allow yourself to be surrounded by people whom
+ I do not know, and who would not come to your house if I were
+ there. Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
+
+ 1807
+
+ DEATH OF NAPOLEON-CHARLES
+
+ Birth of Napoleon’s First Child--Death of the Crown-Prince
+ of Holland--Grief of Hortense--Joséphine Goes to Laeken--She
+ Is Joined There by Hortense--Napoleon’s Letters to His Wife
+ and Daughter--His Apparent Indifference--Joséphine Writes to
+ Hortense--The Emperor’s Letters after Friedland--The Peace
+ Conferences at Tilsit--Napoleon Declines the Queen’s Rose--His
+ Return to Paris
+
+
+On the fifth of May, a date to be ominous in the annals of Napoleon,
+the little crown-prince of Holland died at the age of four years and
+seven months.
+
+Only a few months before, in her hôtel in the Rue de la Victoire, at
+Paris, a certain Mlle. Éléonore Dénuelle had given birth to a male
+child who received the name of Léon. He was the fruit of a short
+liaison between the Emperor and a reader of his sister Caroline. Léon,
+who bore a striking resemblance to his father, but inherited none of
+his talents, was destined to live through four Governments of France,
+and die in poverty at Paris in April 1881 under the Third Republic.
+
+These two events, apparently without any connection, were to change the
+destiny of Napoleon, and to have a decisive influence upon the fate of
+Joséphine. The heir-presumptive to the imperial throne was dead, and
+for the first time the Emperor was convinced that it was possible for
+him to have a direct heir of his own blood. Although the dénouement was
+to be postponed for two years and a half, from that time the divorce
+was absolutely certain.
+
+Napoleon-Charles, the eldest son of Louis and Hortense, was a child
+of unusual beauty and intelligence. The Emperor, who loved children,
+was particularly fond of his little nephew, whom he fully intended to
+adopt as his heir. He had played with the child, as a baby, and had
+seen him develop with great interest. The little Napoleon was sweet,
+loving, full of life and spirits, adored by his mother, and also by his
+gloomy father. In her unhappy married life this boy was the joy and the
+consolation of Hortense, her hope and her pride.
+
+During the night of the fourth-fifth of May 1807 the little prince was
+suddenly attacked by the croup, a disease little understood at that
+time. In the morning he was better, and the physicians were hopeful of
+his recovery. But the trouble returned again during the evening, and at
+ten o’clock the child passed away.
+
+No words can describe the despair of the unfortunate mother. Hortense
+seemed petrified with grief, and they were afraid that she would lose
+her reason.
+
+ [Illustration: QUEEN HORTENSE]
+
+Joséphine also was overwhelmed with sorrow. She did not dare to leave
+the Empire, to go to The Hague, but proceeded at once to the château of
+Laeken, near Brussels, whence she wrote Hortense:
+
+ _To Hortense, at The Hague_
+
+ LAEKEN, 10 P.M., 14 May 1807
+
+ My dear child, I have just arrived at the château of Laeken,
+ where I await you. Come and give me life: your presence is
+ necessary, and you also must need to see me, and to weep with
+ your mother. I would have liked to go further, but my strength
+ failed me, and besides I have not had time to notify the
+ Emperor. I have found the courage to come thus far, and I hope
+ that you too will be brave enough to come to your mother. Adieu,
+ my dear daughter. I am overcome with fatigue, but above all with
+ grief.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+The following night, Hortense and Louis arrived, with their only
+remaining child, Napoleon-Louis, who was then two years and a half old.
+Hortense was like a statue of despair. She did not shed any tears, and
+her cold calm, her absolute silence, were more alarming than the most
+violent manifestations of grief. When she spoke, which was rarely, it
+was only to talk of _him_. When ten o’clock struck, she turned to
+one of her ladies, and remarked: “It was at this hour that he died.”
+
+A special courier had been sent to announce the fatal news to the
+Emperor. He immediately wrote Joséphine:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Saint-Cloud_
+
+ (FINCKENSTEIN), 14 May 1807
+
+ I can conceive all the grief that the death of poor Napoleon has
+ caused you; you can understand the pain that I feel. I should
+ like to be near you, in order that you might be moderate and
+ reasonable in your grief. You have been fortunate enough never
+ to lose a child, but it is one of the conditions and penalties
+ attached to our human misery. Let me hear that you have been
+ reasonable and that you are well! Do you wish to increase my
+ pain?
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+ (FINCKENSTEIN), 16 May 1807
+
+ I have your letter of the 6 May. I see by it already the pain
+ that you feel; I fear that you are not responsible and that you
+ are too much afflicted by the misfortune which has come to us.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ _To the Empress, at Laeken_
+
+ (FINCKENSTEIN), 20 May 1807
+
+ I am in receipt your letter of the 10 May. I see that you have
+ gone to Laeken. I think that you can remain there a fortnight:
+ that will please the Belgians, and will serve as a distraction
+ for you.
+
+ I have noticed with regret that you are not sensible. Grief has
+ its limits which should not be passed. Take care of yourself for
+ your friend, and believe me most sincerely yours.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+It will be interesting to read here the letter written the same day by
+the Emperor to his step-daughter:
+
+ _To the Queen of Holland_
+
+ FINCKENSTEIN, 20 May 1807
+
+ My daughter, all the news that I receive from The Hague tells me
+ that you are not reasonable: no matter how legitimate your grief
+ may be, it should have its limits. Do not let it affect your
+ health; look for distractions; know that life is full of such
+ trials, and may be the source of so many misfortunes that death
+ is not the greatest of all.
+
+ Your affectionate father
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+In two other letters to Joséphine at Laeken, the Emperor writes in much
+the same vein:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Laeken_
+
+ (FINCKENSTEIN), 24 May 1807
+
+ I have your letter from Laeken. I see with regret that you are
+ still full of grief, and that Hortense has not yet arrived. She
+ is not reasonable, and does not deserve to be loved, because she
+ loved only her children.
+
+ Endeavor to calm yourself, and do not cause me grief. For every
+ evil without remedy, we must find some consolation.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ (FINCKENSTEIN), 26 May 1807
+
+ I am in receipt your letter of the sixteenth. I see with
+ pleasure that Hortense has arrived at Laeken. I am annoyed at
+ your report of the kind of stupor which she still shows. She
+ should have more courage, and control herself. I cannot conceive
+ why they want her to go to the baths: she would be much more
+ diverted at Paris, and find more consolation. Control yourself;
+ be gay, and take care of yourself. My health is very good.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie. I suffer much on account of your grief, and
+ regret that I am not with you.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+During a brief visit which he made to Dantzig the first of June, the
+Emperor wrote Joséphine, and also Hortense at the same time:
+
+
+ _To the Empress, at Malmaison_
+
+ (DANTZIG), 2 June 1807
+
+ Mon amie, I have just learned of your arrival at Malmaison. I
+ have no letters from you. I am angry with Hortense: she has not
+ written me a word. I am grieved with all that you tell me of
+ her. How does it happen that you have not been able to divert
+ her a little? You cry! I hope that you will get yourself under
+ control, in order that I may not find you entirely sad.
+
+ I have been at Dantzig for two days. The weather is very fine,
+ and I am very well. I think more of you than you think of the
+ absent one.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; a thousand loving thoughts. Send this letter to
+ Hortense.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ _To the Queen of Holland_
+
+ 2 June 1807
+
+ My daughter, you have not written me a word, in your just and
+ great grief. You have forgotten everything, as if you were never
+ in the future to endure other losses. They tell me that you no
+ longer care for anything; that you are wholly indifferent; I
+ perceive it from your silence. It is not well, Hortense! It is
+ not what you promised us. Your son was all in all to you. Your
+ mother and I are then of no account! If I had been at Malmaison,
+ I should have shared your grief; but I should also have wished
+ to have you turn to your best friends. Adieu, my child, be gay,
+ be resigned. Take care of yourself in order to fulfill all your
+ duties. My wife is very sad over your condition: do not cause
+ her more grief.
+
+ Your affectionate father
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+Two days after the battle of Friedland Napoleon again wrote Hortense:
+
+
+ _To the Queen of Holland_
+
+ (FRIEDLAND), 16 June 1807
+
+ My daughter, I have received your letter dated at Orléans; your
+ griefs touch me, but I would like to know that you had more
+ courage: to live is to suffer, and the worthy man strives always
+ to remain master of himself. I do not like to see you unjust
+ to the little Napoleon-Louis, and to all of your friends. Your
+ mother and I had hoped that we were of more account than we seem
+ to be in your heart. I gained a great victory the 14 June. I am
+ well, and love you dearly. Adieu, my daughter. I embrace you
+ with all my heart.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+It must be admitted that Napoleon does not appear to advantage in
+these letters. To a mother stupefied with grief, and to a grandmother
+almost equally overwhelmed, he has nothing more consoling to say than
+the injunction to be “gay,” and to seek “diversions.” Yet Napoleon
+dearly loved the little prince, and had fully expected to make him his
+heir. The loss of the child must have been a severe blow both to his
+affections and his family pride. The Emperor had in his composition
+much of the stoicism of the American Indian, and under this appearance
+of _nonchalance_ he may have concealed his own deep sorrow. He
+really had a very profound sensibility, and was not so callous as his
+remarks on many occasions would lead one to think. To quote his own
+words: “Man often appears more cold and selfish than he really is.”
+At one moment he exclaims: “Friendship is but a name!” At another he
+says: “We only feel how much we love when we meet again, or during
+absence.” And again: “Love for one’s children and one’s wife are those
+sweet affections which subdue the soul by the heart, and the feelings
+by tenderness.”
+
+In his letters to Fouché and Monge, the Emperor displayed more feeling.
+To Fouché on the 18 May he wrote: “I have been much afflicted by the
+misfortune which has befallen me. I had hoped for a more brilliant
+destiny for this poor child.” To Monge: “I thank you for all that
+you say regarding the death of the poor little Napoleon: it was his
+destiny!” Again to Fouché: “The loss of the little Napoleon has caused
+me much grief. I wish that his father and mother had received from
+nature as much courage as myself to know how to endure the evils of
+life; but they are younger and have reflected less upon the fragility
+of earthly ties!” Such is his philosophy. He is too much of a fatalist
+to feel any revolt against death. He is always ready; for every day, at
+every moment, he faces it, and the unexpected does not disconcert him.
+Manifestations of grief are forbidden by his calling, by his duty as a
+commander: he had faced death on too many bloody fields to be appalled
+by the everlasting night “when deep sleep falleth on men.”
+
+After a short stay at Laeken, Hortense went with Joséphine to
+Malmaison, and a few days later proceeded to Cauterêts in the Pyrenees
+to take the baths. Her mother wrote her from Saint-Cloud on the 27 May:
+
+ I have often cried since your departure, my dear Hortense; this
+ separation has been very painful to me.... I have received news
+ of your son: he is at the château of Laeken, in good health,
+ and awaiting the arrival of the King. The Emperor has written
+ me again: he participates deeply in our grief. I needed this
+ consolation, for I have none since your departure.... Adieu, my
+ dear daughter; take care of yourself for a mother who tenderly
+ loves you.
+
+On the 4 June Joséphine again wrote from Saint-Cloud:
+
+ Your letter has comforted me very much, my dear Hortense.... The
+ Emperor has been strongly affected: in all his letters he tries
+ to give me courage, but I know that he has been much moved by
+ this unfortunate occurrence. The King reached Saint-Leu last
+ night; he has let me know that he is coming to see me to-day;
+ he must leave the little one with me during his absence. You
+ know how much I love this child, and the care that I will take
+ of him. It is my wish that the King follow you: it will be a
+ consolation for you both to see each other. All the letters
+ that I have received from him since you left are full of his
+ attachment for you. Your heart is too sensitive not to be
+ touched by it. Adieu, my dear girl, take care of your health. I
+ embrace you tenderly.
+
+This letter displays all the goodness and kindness of Joséphine’s
+nature: she endeavors to soften the reproaches of Napoleon, and to
+bring Hortense and her husband together. A week later she wrote: “Your
+son is in splendid health: he greatly amuses me. He is so sweet: I
+think that he has all the ways of the dear child whom we mourn.”
+Joséphine knew how to console better than the Emperor!
+
+ * * * * *
+
+While Hortense was in the depths of despair, and her mother was trying
+to assuage her grief, the Emperor brought to an end this terrible
+campaign of Poland by the brilliant victory of Friedland. He tells the
+story to Joséphine in his usual concise, graphic style:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Saint-Cloud_
+
+ FRIEDLAND, 15 June 1807
+
+ Mon amie, I write you only a word, for I am very tired. My
+ children have worthily celebrated the anniversary of Marengo.
+
+ The battle of Friedland will also be celebrated, and equally
+ glorious for my people. The whole Russian army put to rout: 80
+ cannon, 30,000 men killed or prisoners; 25 generals, killed,
+ wounded or taken; the Russian Guard crushed--it is a worthy
+ sister of Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena! The bulletin will tell you
+ the rest. My loss is not considerable; I manœuvred the enemy
+ with success.
+
+ Be reassured and content.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ FRIEDLAND, 4 p.m., 16 June 1807
+
+ Mon amie, I sent you a courier yesterday with the news of the
+ battle of Friedland. Since then I have continued the pursuit of
+ the enemy. Kœnigsberg, a city of 80,000 souls, is in my power.
+ I have found there many cannon, large magazines, and more than
+ 60,000 guns, brought from England.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; my health is perfect, although I have a slight
+ cold from the rain and the coolness of the bivouac. Be content
+ and gay.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+From Tilsit, on the 19 June, the Emperor sent Joséphine the welcome
+news that the victory had been decisive, and that the campaign was
+over. A few days later he wrote that he had met the Czar Alexander, and
+was very much pleased with him: “He is a very handsome, good and young
+Emperor, and has more intelligence than most people think. He is coming
+to-morrow to take up his residence in Tilsit.”
+
+At Tilsit, the Czar and the King of Prussia dined every day with the
+Emperor, as he tells Joséphine in his correspondence. An hour after
+her arrival Napoleon paid a visit to the Queen of Prussia, who was one
+of the most beautiful and most attractive women of her day. When she
+came to dine with him that evening the Emperor received her with great
+respect at the door of his mansion. But he was firm in his refusal
+to mitigate at her request any of the hard conditions of the peace
+which he imposed on Prussia. At dinner, that night, the Queen offered
+a beautiful rose to Napoleon, saying with a gracious smile: “Take it,
+Sire, but in exchange for Magdebourg.” This episode is alluded to by
+the Emperor in the following letter:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Saint-Cloud_
+
+ (TILSIT), 7 July 1807
+
+ Mon amie, the Queen of Prussia dined with me yesterday. I had
+ to refuse to make some concessions to her husband which she
+ endeavored to obtain from me. But I have been gallant, while
+ adhering to my policy. She is very amiable. Later I will give
+ you the details which it would take too long to tell now. When
+ you read this letter peace with Prussia and Russia will be
+ concluded, and Jérôme recognized as King of Westphalia with
+ three millions of population. This news for you only.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; I love thee, and wish to know that thou art gay
+ and contented.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+After a last interview with the Czar, at the end of which the two
+sovereigns embraced each other affectionately, the Emperor went for a
+short visit to Kœnigsberg. Leaving there at six o’clock on the night of
+the 13 July he travelled directly to Dresden, where he arrived at five
+o’clock on the seventeenth. He spent ninety-two hours in his carriage,
+stopping to rest only twice en route, and then only for very brief
+intervals. From Dresden he wrote Joséphine the last of his letters
+during this campaign:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Saint-Cloud_
+
+ (DRESDEN), Noon, 18 July 1807
+
+ Mon amie, I arrived at Dresden at five o’clock last evening,
+ feeling very well, although I remained a hundred hours in my
+ carriage without getting out. I am staying here with the King of
+ Saxony, with whom I am well pleased. I have therefore covered
+ half the distance to thee.
+
+ It may happen that one of these fine nights I shall fall upon
+ thee at Saint-Cloud like a jealous husband: I give thee fair
+ warning!
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; it will give me great pleasure to see thee.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+At six o’clock on the morning of the 27 July the Emperor was back at
+Saint-Cloud, after an absence of over ten months.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
+
+ 1807
+
+ THE COURT AT FONTAINEBLEAU
+
+ Talleyrand Appointed Vice-Grand-Électeur--Fête of the
+ Emperor--Marriage of Jérôme and Catherine--Return of
+ Louis and Hortense--New Quarrels--Louis Departs Alone
+ for Holland--Napoleon’s Power--The Court Goes to
+ Fontainebleau--Napoleon at Thirty-eight--The Emperor’s Program
+ of Entertainment--Life of Joséphine--Ennui of the Emperor
+ and His Guests--The Gazzani Affair--Jérôme’s Flirtation with
+ Stéphanie--Illness of Hortense--She Refuses Any Reconciliation
+ with Louis
+
+
+The credit of Talleyrand had never stood so high as at this time. He
+had been of great use to the Emperor in Poland, and had ably carried
+out the negotiations for the Treaty of Tilsit. By way of recompense,
+on the 9 August, the Emperor made him vice-grand-elector. This great
+dignity of the Empire gave Talleyrand the right to replace Joseph on
+all occasions of ceremony, but at the same time he was forced to give
+up the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, as being beneath the dignity of
+his new rank. The emoluments of his new office, added to his salary as
+grand chamberlain and the revenues of his principality of Benevento,
+gave him an income of half a million francs. At the same time his
+personal fortune was estimated at fully six millions. Every treaty that
+he had concluded had brought him enormous _gratifications_.
+
+On the 15 August the fête of the Emperor was celebrated with great
+magnificence. In the morning a _Te Deum_ was chanted at Notre-Dame. In
+the evening there was a banquet at the Tuileries, followed by a concert
+and a ballet. The salons of the Château were filled with all the
+dignitaries of the Empire, in full evening dress. The Emperor appeared
+on the balcony, holding the hand of Joséphine, and was cheered by an
+immense crowd in the illuminated Gardens below.
+
+A week later was celebrated the marriage of Jérôme with the young
+Princesse Catherine of Würtemberg. The Pope had firmly refused to grant
+the Emperor’s petition for an annulment of the Patterson marriage, but
+the French ecclesiastical authorities proved more amenable, and in
+October 1806 the marriage was declared null and void.
+
+Jérôme, who was the youngest, and also the most worthless of the
+Bonapartes, had just received from his brother the crown of Westphalia.
+The princesse, who was nearly two years older than her husband, was
+a woman of much charm. She was tall and beautiful; affable in her
+manners, and of superior intelligence.
+
+After a marriage by procuration at Stuttgart, Catherine came to Paris.
+She arrived at the Tuileries on the 21 August; the contract was signed
+the next day in the Galerie de Diane; and was followed on the 23 August
+by the religious ceremony, which was performed in the chapel by the
+Archbishop of Ratisbon, the Prince-Primate of the Confederation of the
+Rhine. Thus was carried out the third part of the Emperor’s plan for
+alliances with the royal families of Europe. This marriage also proved
+quite a happy one. Catherine was devoted to Jérôme, notwithstanding
+his many notorious infidelities, and refused to abandon him after the
+fall of the Empire.
+
+At the end of this month the King and Queen of Holland returned from
+their visit to the baths in the Pyrenees. Hortense had been joined by
+Louis at Cauterêts in June, and they had once more resumed their life
+in common. At the time of their arrival at Saint-Cloud they seemed to
+be on very good terms with each other, but still sad over their loss.
+Hortense was very thin, and already suffering from the beginning of
+her _grossesse_. At the baths she had met the secretary of Madame
+Mère, Monsieur Decazès, who had just lost his wife, and the fact that
+they were both in mourning had been a bond of sympathy between them.
+Reports of their intimacy had reached Paris, and Caroline did not
+hesitate to retail the scandal to her brother on his return, even going
+so far as to insinuate that the interesting condition of Hortense was
+due to the handsome young secretary. It did not take much to revive
+the suspicions of the jealous Louis, and discord once more reigned
+in the royal household. Louis naturally wished to take his wife and
+son with him on his return to Holland, but the Empress, alarmed at
+her daughter’s appearance, called a consultation of physicians, who
+unanimously decided that it would be dangerous for Hortense in her
+condition to return for the winter to the cold, damp climate of the
+Low Countries. The Emperor therefore ordered that Hortense and her son
+should remain in Paris. Louis submitted with apparent reluctance to his
+brother’s command and departed alone for The Hague.
+
+Hortense, who had previously endured without complaint the unjust
+suspicions of Louis, was this time mortally offended, and conceived a
+profound hatred for her husband. When she found that he had believed
+her capable of an _intrigue galante_ at a moment when she was
+thinking only of death, in the depths of her despair over the loss of
+her favorite child, she resolved never to live with him again.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+For the first time in his life the Emperor now decided to take a real
+vacation of eight weeks, and the Court was ordered to assemble on the
+21 September at Fontainebleau. This historic château was always a
+favorite place of residence for Napoleon, and now that the Tuileries
+and Saint-Cloud have disappeared it is the only royal palace with which
+his name is identified.
+
+In the autumn of 1807, Napoleon was at the zenith of his glory. He
+never yet had known defeat: at Austerlitz, Jena and Friedland he
+had conquered the three greatest nations of the Continent. To the
+democratic days of the earlier period of the Empire had succeeded an
+aristocratic régime. The Emperor posed as a new Charlemagne, the chief
+of a family of sovereigns. To him the kings of Bavaria, Würtemberg,
+Holland, Saxony, Naples and Westphalia owed their royal crowns. The
+reigning princes of the Confederation of the Rhine were his vassals.
+From the Baltic to the Pyrenees, from the Channel to the Adriatic, his
+will was law.
+
+ [Illustration: CHÂTEAU OF FONTAINEBLEAU]
+
+Accordingly the command had gone forth that the Court was to amuse
+itself at Fontainebleau: _pleasure_ was the order of the
+day. Never before had Europe witnessed such a gathering of kings
+and princes. The Emperor and Empress arrived on the 21 September,
+and within a few days there appeared; the Queen of Holland, the
+Queen of Naples, the King and Queen of Westphalia, the Grand-Duke
+of Berg (Murat) and his wife, Madame Mère, the Princesse Pauline,
+Prince Charles of Baden and his wife, the Prince-Primate, the Duke
+of Würzburg, and too many others to mention. The Emperor had also
+commanded the presence of Talleyrand, Berthier, Champagny, and Maret;
+all of the grand officers of the imperial household, the ministers of
+the Kingdom of Italy, and several of the marshals.
+
+This visit of the Court to Fontainebleau is one of the most interesting
+episodes of life under the Empire and well deserves a chapter to
+itself. The Emperor never again consecrated so long a period of time
+solely to pleasure, and his Court was never more brilliant. Here
+for the first and last time there was a renewal of the life of the
+Ancien Régime, as it was in the days of the Grand Monarque: here came
+to the surface the same interests, passions, intrigues, weaknesses,
+treacheries--in a word, it was a real Court! It would require the pen
+of a Saint-Simon faithfully to depict the scene, with all its changing
+lights and shadows, to seize its full spirit, and make it live again.
+It furnishes the theme of one of the most interesting stories in the
+memoirs of Madame de Rémusat:
+
+“At this time, Napoleon, oblivious of the past, certain of the future,
+was proceeding with a firm step, anticipating no obstacle, or at least
+certain that he could easily overcome any found in his path. It seemed
+to him, it seemed to every one, that he could not fall except by an
+event so unlooked for, so strange, and so catastrophic, that a mass
+of interests in favor of order and repose were solemnly engaged in
+his conservation. In fact, master or friend of all the kings of the
+Continent, ally of many by treaties or foreign marriages, sure of
+Europe by the new partitions he had made, having upon the most remote
+frontiers important garrisons which insured the execution of his
+will, absolute depository of all the resources of France, rich with
+an immense treasury, in the flower of his age, admired, feared, and
+above all scrupulously obeyed, it seemed as though he had overcome all
+obstacles.”
+
+Such is the picture which Madame de Rémusat draws of the Emperor at the
+age of thirty-eight, in this autumn of 1807, and she remarks:
+
+“Let us suppose that some one, ignorant of the past, had suddenly been
+thrown into Fontainebleau at this time,--it is certain that, blinded
+by the magnificence displayed in this royal habitation; struck by
+the air of authority of the master, and the obsequious reverence of
+the great personages who surrounded him,--this stranger would have
+seen, or thought that he saw, a sovereign peaceably seated upon the
+greatest throne in the world, with all the united rights of power and
+legitimacy.”
+
+As soon as the invited guests arrived at the Château they were informed
+of the program drawn up by the Emperor for their entertainment. The
+different evenings of the week were to be passed in the apartments of
+the various great personages. One evening the Emperor would receive,
+and there would be music, followed by games. Twice a week there was
+to be a theatrical performance; on other nights, balls to be given
+by the Princesses Pauline and Caroline; and finally, an assembly and
+play in the rooms of the Empress. The princes and ministers, in turn,
+were to give dinners and invite all of the guests in rotation; the
+grand marshal and the lady of honor were to do the same, each having
+a table for twenty-five persons every day; and finally there was to
+be another table for all who were not invited elsewhere. Even the
+kings and princes could not dine with the Emperor except by special
+invitation. On certain days there was a hunt, which the guests followed
+on horseback, or in very elegant calèches which were provided. The
+Emperor liked the chase more for the exercise it gave him than for the
+thing itself. He often abandoned the pursuit of the stag, and wandered
+through the forest, lost in revery. He was a good, but very reckless
+horseman, and always rode small Arabians specially trained for his
+service.
+
+The Emperor employed his vacation in working as usual. He rose at
+seven o’clock, breakfasted alone, and, the days that he did not
+hunt, remained in his cabinet until five or six. The ministers and
+secretaries came from Paris with their despatch-boxes exactly the same
+as though he were at Saint-Cloud. He never took account of time or
+distance, either for himself or any one else.
+
+While the Emperor was occupied in his cabinet, Joséphine, always
+elegantly dressed, breakfasted with her daughter and her ladies, and
+later received in her salon the visits of the guests at the palace.
+She never liked to be alone, and had no taste for any kind of work. At
+four o’clock the Empress dismissed her callers, and went to her room
+for the rites of the evening toilette, always with her an important
+function. Quite frequently during the week the Emperor came for his
+wife between five and six, and they went for a drive together before
+dinner. They dined at six, and afterwards went to the entertainment
+arranged for that evening.
+
+The great officials who had the privilege of the _entrée_ could
+present themselves at the apartment of the Empress. They knocked at
+the door, were announced by the chamberlain on duty, and admitted
+by command of the Emperor. If it were a woman, she took her seat in
+silence; if a man, he remained standing at the side of the room. The
+Emperor promenaded back and forth, his hands behind his back, his head
+bent forward, generally absorbed in his thoughts. Occasionally he asked
+a question and received a brief reply. Of real conversation, there was
+none. Every one stood in such awe of the Emperor that he feared to make
+any remarks. At the assemblies it was the same. Everybody around the
+Emperor was bored, and he was equally bored himself. One day he said to
+Talleyrand: “It is a singular thing: I have brought together a crowd
+of people at Fontainebleau; I have wanted them to be amused; I have
+arranged all their entertainments, yet their faces are all long, and
+every one has the air of being tired and depressed.” “The trouble is,”
+replied Talleyrand, “that you cannot regulate pleasure by the beat of
+the drum. Here, as in the army, you have always the air of saying to
+each one of us, _Allons, messieurs et mesdames, en avant marche!_”
+
+The Emperor wished two plays given each week, which must always
+be different. In addition to these performances, by the
+Comédie-Française, there were representations of Italian opera. The
+plays were always tragedies, often Corneille, sometimes Racine, but
+rarely Voltaire, whom Napoleon did not like. The whole Court was bored
+to death by these interminable tragedies, and yawned or dozed. There
+was never any applause, and the play was received in cold silence. The
+Emperor himself either slept, or was buried in thought. For the opera,
+the best Italian singers had been engaged, at large salaries, but they
+were listened to without a sign of interest.
+
+The fêtes and spectacles were nominally in charge of M. de Talleyrand,
+the grand chamberlain, but the real work was done by the first
+chamberlain, M. de Rémusat, to whom Talleyrand said one day: “I am
+sorry for you, for you must amuse the _unamusable_!” The dreamy,
+discontented disposition which the Emperor displayed on all occasions
+cast a sombre veil over all the assemblies and balls at Fontainebleau.
+
+About eight o’clock the Court in gala costume assembled in the
+apartment where the entertainment was to be given that evening. While
+awaiting the arrival of Their Majesties there was no conversation. The
+Empress came first, gracefully traversed the salon, took her place, and
+then, like the others, awaited in silence the entry of the Emperor.
+Finally he came, and took his seat beside her. He watched the dancing
+with a bored look, which was not conducive to pleasure, and naturally
+no one enjoyed the evening. He soon took his departure, and almost
+immediately the assembly broke up.
+
+While the Court was at Fontainebleau the Emperor had an _affaire_
+with a beautiful young woman named Gazzani. Talleyrand had found her
+in Italy, and had persuaded the Emperor to give her a place in his
+household as reader for the Empress, while her husband was made a
+receiver general. She was tall, beautifully formed, with magnificent
+dark eyes, and a very attractive face. In a Court where there were
+many lovely women, she was generally considered the most beautiful of
+all. She had a very sweet, submissive disposition, and yielded to the
+desires of the Emperor from a kind of conviction that it was her duty
+not to resist him. At the same time she displayed the greatest devotion
+for the Empress, who closed her eyes to this little episode. As a
+result, this liaison was of brief duration, and attracted very little
+attention.
+
+Another love affair which caused much talk, but was also very brief,
+was the sudden passion which the new King of Westphalia conceived
+for the charming young Duchesse of Baden. Jérôme had not even waited
+until his honeymoon was over before beginning a violent flirtation,
+and Catherine was very jealous. Stéphanie, who had not yet learned to
+appreciate her husband, was gay and frivolous and naturally coquette.
+Jérôme danced with her at all the balls, while Catherine, who had
+inherited from her father a tendency to corpulence and did not dance,
+was forced to look sadly on. Finally, one evening when Jérôme had been
+more than usually attentive to Stéphanie, Catherine suddenly burst
+into tears, and fell from her chair in a dead faint. The ball was
+interrupted, and she was carried into an adjoining salon. The Emperor
+addressed a few sharp words to his brother: Jérôme rushed after his
+wife, threw himself on his knees by her side, and with a thousand
+caresses endeavored to restore her to consciousness. A few minutes
+later the young couple retired to their apartment.
+
+The following day, Napoleon commanded Joséphine to have a plain talk
+with her lively cousin, and bring her to reason. Stéphanie took the
+reproof in good part, and both of the young people were too much afraid
+of the Emperor to renew what had been after all an innocent flirtation.
+
+At this time, the Emperor no longer showed his partiality for
+Stéphanie. He seemed to have forgotten entirely the rules prescribed
+for her as his adopted daughter before her marriage, and only accorded
+her the rank and precedence of a princesse of the Confederation of the
+Rhine, which placed her below the queens and the imperial princesses.
+From that time on, Stéphanie was a model of decorum in her conduct.
+She showed no regret on leaving for Baden with her husband, and this
+seems to have been the beginning of the perfect accord which afterwards
+united them.
+
+In the meantime Hortense was living in the greatest possible seclusion.
+Her health was very delicate, and the memory of her lost child was
+always with her. The Emperor displayed for her much affection and
+esteem. At the bottom of his heart he undoubtedly had more love for
+her than for his brother, but the family spirit was too strong for him
+to take any active part in their quarrels. He had consented to her
+remaining in Paris until after her confinement, but he continued to
+speak of her return to Holland. For her part, Hortense was equally firm
+in her determination never to return to this bleak country where she
+had experienced so much trouble and sorrow. She said to the Emperor:
+“My reputation is tarnished, my health is lost, I look for no more
+happiness in life; banish me from your Court if you wish; shut me up
+in a convent; I desire neither throne nor fortune. Give peace to my
+mother, distinction to Eugène who deserves it, but let me live tranquil
+and alone.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
+
+ 1807
+
+ PROJECTS OF DIVORCE
+
+ The Question of Divorce First Seriously Considered--Napoleon
+ Asks Joséphine to Take the Initiative--She Refuses--Fouché’s
+ Letter to the Empress--Napoleon Pretends Ignorance--He Writes
+ Fouché to Cease Meddling--Talleyrand’s Attitude--Fouché
+ Influences Public Opinion--End of the Fêtes--Death of
+ Joséphine’s Mother--Napoleon’s Trip to Italy--His Interview with
+ Lucien--He Adopts Eugène--His Letters to Joséphine
+
+
+During the two months that the Court was at Fontainebleau the question
+of divorce was broached seriously for the first time. Talleyrand, who
+was more familiar than any one else with the projects of the Emperor,
+was very quietly working to bring the matter about; but he wished, at
+the same time, to have the Emperor make a great alliance, and above
+all to be himself the one to negotiate it. Caroline and Murat were
+also laying their plans to overcome the lingering affection which
+still bound Napoleon to Joséphine, and which alone kept her on the
+throne. Allied with them were Joséphine’s former friend, Fouché, and
+the Secretary of State, Maret, who was secretly jealous of the great
+and well-deserved European reputation of Talleyrand, whom he hoped to
+supplant in the councils of the Emperor.
+
+As stated above, the death of the little crown-prince had made a change
+in the plans of the Emperor; his victories, in increasing his power,
+had extended his ideas of grandeur, and both his vanity and his policy
+dictated an alliance with one of the European royal families. At the
+time of his return from Tilsit there was some talk of the daughter of
+the King of Saxony in this connection, but this princesse was at least
+thirty years old, and far from beautiful; her father only reigned by
+the grace of Napoleon, and such an alliance would not have increased
+the prestige of the Emperor.
+
+The conferences at Tilsit had justly increased the pride of Napoleon.
+The fascination he had exercised over the young Czar, the ready assent
+given to all his projects, had produced in his mind the thought of a
+still more intimate alliance. But on his return to Joséphine, after a
+separation of ten months, the old ties which so firmly bound him to her
+had been again renewed.
+
+In speaking one day to the Empress of the quarrels of Louis and
+Hortense, and the delicate health of their only remaining child,
+Napoleon said that some day he might perhaps be constrained by the
+demands of public policy to take a wife who could give him an heir. In
+broaching the subject he displayed much emotion. “If such a thing comes
+about, Joséphine,” he said, “you must aid me to make such a sacrifice.
+I shall count upon all your affection for me to take the responsibility
+for this forced separation. You will assume the initiative, will you
+not, and, realizing my position, have the courage to decide yourself
+upon this rupture?”
+
+The Empress understood too well the character of her husband to fall
+into this trap, and precipitate by an imprudent word the catastrophe
+which she so much dreaded. Therefore, so far from giving him the hope
+that by her action she would assume the odium of such a rupture, she
+assured him that, while she was always ready to obey his orders, she
+never would take the initiative. She made this reply in the calm and
+dignified manner which she knew how to assume with Napoleon, and which
+was always effective with him.
+
+Even in her private intercourse with the Emperor, Joséphine for some
+time past had abandoned the old familiar _tutoiement_, and she now
+said:
+
+“Sire, you are the master, and you will decide upon my fate. When you
+command me to leave the Tuileries, I shall instantly obey; but at
+least you must order it in a positive manner. I am your wife: I have
+been crowned by you in the presence of the Pope; such honors impose
+the obligation of not resigning them voluntarily. If you divorce me,
+all France will know that it is you who drives me away, and will be
+ignorant neither of my obedience nor my profound grief.”
+
+This form of reply, which was always the same, did not offend the
+Emperor, and often moved him to tears: in fact he was torn by many
+conflicting emotions. On the one hand he sincerely felt that State
+policy demanded an heir to the throne; on the other, he knew that
+Joséphine was loved by the people, and he hesitated to brave public
+opinion by repudiating her.
+
+When Joséphine confided her doubts and fears to Hortense, she was far
+from finding a sympathetic listener. Her daughter’s only reply was:
+“How can one regret a throne?”
+
+Two or three weeks before the end of the visit of the Court to
+Fontainebleau, Fouché arrived one morning from Paris. After a long
+private interview with the Emperor in his cabinet, he was invited to
+dinner--a most unusual honor. Towards midnight, when all the guests in
+the château had gone to their rooms, M. de Rémusat was summoned to the
+apartment of the Empress. He found her half-undressed, her hair down,
+and her face discomposed. She dismissed her attendants, and, crying
+that she was lost, shoved into the hands of the chamberlain a long
+letter signed by Fouché. In this communication he began by protesting
+his former devotion for her, and assured her that it was on account
+of this feeling that he ventured to face her situation and that of
+the Emperor. He pictured the Emperor as at the zenith of his power,
+sovereign-master of France, but responsible to that same France for
+the present, and for the future which she had confided to him. “It is
+useless to try to dissimulate the fact, Madame,” he continued, “that
+the political future of France is compromised by the lack of an heir to
+the Emperor. As Minister of Police, I am in a position to know public
+opinion, and I know that there is much disquietude over the matter
+of the succession to such an empire. Figure to yourself, Madame, the
+stability which the throne of His Majesty would possess to-day if it
+were founded upon the existence of a son!”
+
+ [Illustration: FOUCHÉ, DUC D’OTRANTE]
+
+This advantage was ably developed at length, as indeed it might well
+be. Then he spoke of the conflict between the conjugal tenderness of
+the Emperor and his public policy; he foresaw that the Emperor would
+never make up his mind to dictate so grievous a sacrifice; he therefore
+ventured to advise Her Majesty to make herself a courageous effort,
+and to immolate herself for France. He drew a most pathetic picture of
+the glory that such an action would give her now and in the future. The
+letter ended with the assurance that the Emperor was ignorant of this
+step; that the writer feared it would displease him; and the Empress
+was solicited to keep the matter a profound secret.
+
+It was obvious that Fouché would never have ventured to write such a
+letter without the knowledge of the Emperor. “What shall I do?” cried
+Joséphine; “how shall I meet this storm?” Rémusat advised her to see
+the Emperor, either that night or the first thing in the morning, ask
+him to read the letter, and observe his face while he did so. Also, to
+express her indignation at this uncalled-for advice, and to reiterate
+her determination never to accept anything but a positive command from
+the Emperor himself.
+
+Joséphine adopted this advice, and, as the hour was late, deferred her
+interview with the Emperor until morning. When she showed Napoleon
+the letter, he pretended to be very angry. He assured her that he was
+entirely ignorant of this step; that Fouché had displayed a zeal most
+uncalled-for; that if the minister had not already left for Paris he
+would have taken him sharply to task; that he would punish Fouché if
+she so desired, and even dismiss him from his position in the ministry.
+He was very affectionate with Joséphine, but she was far from being
+reassured by his explanation and promises.
+
+Talleyrand, when informed of this matter, expressed the opinion that
+the letter of Fouché was ridiculous and improper, and advised that the
+Empress should reply, in a very dignified tone, to the effect that she
+did not require his services as an intermediary between herself and
+the Emperor. She wrote such a letter, which was read and approved by
+Talleyrand, and then submitted to the Emperor, who did not venture to
+censure it.
+
+When Fouché returned a few days later, the Empress treated him very
+coldly, but he did not appear to notice her manner. Napoleon said to
+Joséphine: “He acted from an excess of zeal: you must not treasure
+it up against him. It is enough that we are determined to reject his
+advice, and that you know well that I cannot live without you.”
+
+On the 5 November the Emperor wrote Fouché: “For a fortnight past you
+have made foolish blunders: it is time that they came to an end, and
+that you ceased to meddle, directly or indirectly, with a matter which
+does not in any way concern you. Such is my wish!”
+
+The outcome of the whole affair was a temporary renewal of the former
+close relations between Napoleon and Joséphine. He displayed for
+her all of his old affection, and little by little her fears were
+dissipated.
+
+During all this period, the Empress was guided by the advice of
+Talleyrand. When Madame de Rémusat expressed her surprise at his
+course, he replied: “There is no one here in the palace who should
+not wish to have this woman remain by the side of the Emperor. She is
+kind and good; she has the art of calming him; she takes an interest
+in the affairs of everybody. If we see a princesse arrive here, you
+will see the Emperor break with the entire Court, and we shall all be
+crushed.” These were wise words and true, and almost convince one that
+Talleyrand at the moment was sincere.
+
+It is not difficult to understand the motives which actuated Fouché
+and Talleyrand in this somewhat involved affair. Fouché had sufficient
+perspicacity to realize that with the Emperor the question of policy
+would in the end outweigh all other considerations. He had therefore
+joined the party of Caroline, who detested all the Beauharnais, and,
+for personal reasons also, wished to see her brother enter the family
+of some European sovereign. Once committed to this undertaking, Fouché
+used without scruples his position as minister of police to work up
+public opinion. He instructed his secret agents to discuss in the cafés
+and other public places the necessity of an heir to the Emperor. These
+suggestions were reported by other agents to the minister, and by him
+to the Emperor, who easily became convinced that the people were more
+interested in the question than was probably the case.
+
+With his usual shrewdness, Talleyrand took advantage of the sentiment
+thus worked up by his rival, to turn it to his own personal benefit. At
+the bottom of his heart Talleyrand may not have been in favor of the
+divorce; but if it must be, he wished to bring it about in his own time
+and in his own way, and above all to get the credit. The Murat coterie
+favored strengthening the alliance already concluded with Russia by
+a matrimonial connection. But Talleyrand, better informed regarding
+foreign relations, knew that the mother of the Czar would never consent
+to give the hand of one of her daughters to the “murderer” of the Duc
+d’Enghien. Besides, the affair of Spain was about to come to the
+front, and the time was not opportune to bring forward the question of
+divorce. Moved, therefore, both by sentiment and by policy, Talleyrand
+for the time being opposed and check-mated the efforts of Fouché.
+
+Finally the fêtes at Fontainebleau came to an end, much to the
+delight of every one. When the Emperor called for a statement of the
+expenditures he was surprised to learn that the total did not exceed
+150,000 francs. The last visit of Louis the Sixteenth had cost about
+two millions. The imperial household, under Duroc, the grand-marshal of
+the palace, was run with military discipline and economy. The servants
+were always at their posts and scrupulous in the performance of their
+duties: everything moved like clock-work. No detail was overlooked by
+the marshal, and he reported directly to the Emperor, who personally
+supervised and directed the work of the household.
+
+While the Court was still at Fontainebleau Joséphine received the news
+of the death of her mother, who passed away on the 2 June 1807, at the
+age of seventy, at her residence in Martinique. Joséphine, who dearly
+loved her mother, had done everything possible to persuade her to come
+to live in France, where she would have received a warm welcome. But
+this venerable lady preferred her modest and quiet home to all the
+splendors of the imperial palaces.
+
+On the 16 November the Emperor left Fontainebleau for Italy, and
+Joséphine returned to Paris. She would have liked to make the trip with
+him, to see her son Eugène and the little granddaughter who bore her
+name, but this time Napoleon absolutely refused his consent. He said
+that he would only be gone two or three weeks, that the weather would
+be very cold, and that she had better await his return at the Tuileries.
+
+On the 20 November the Emperor crossed Mont-Cenis in a raging snow
+storm and reached Turin the same evening. The following day he
+proceeded to Milan, where he was welcomed by Eugène. During the five
+days that he passed in the city there were religious ceremonies at
+the cathedral, reviews, and a gala performance at the Scala. On the
+28 November he arrived at Venice, where he had with him his brother
+Joseph, King of Naples; his sister Elisa, Princesse de Lucques; Prince
+Eugène, Viceroy of Italy; the King and Queen of Bavaria; Murat and
+Berthier.
+
+After spending ten days at Venice, the Emperor went to Mantua, where
+on the 13 December he had a long interview with his brother Lucien.
+It will be remembered that Lucien, in opposition to the wishes of the
+First Consul, had married his mistress, Madame Jouberthou. Napoleon
+desired him to get a divorce, and marry Marie-Louise, daughter of King
+Charles of Spain, and widow of the King of Etruria, but Lucien spurned
+this brilliant alliance. In the spring of 1804, he went into voluntary
+exile at Rome, where he was followed by his mother, who refused to
+return to Paris even for the Coronation.
+
+During the evening the Emperor sent his secretary, Méneval, to find
+Lucien at the inn where he was staying, and conduct him to the palace.
+Lucien greeted his brother very coldly, and with much dignity. After
+once more reproaching Lucien for his marriage, and indulging in some
+threats as to what he would do if his brother still refused to meet
+his wishes, the Emperor made this proposition: He would recognize
+as members of the Imperial family the daughters of Lucien by both
+his marriages; he would consider his second marriage as legal, but
+would not recognize his wife as an Imperial princesse, or consider as
+legitimate the son born before their marriage. If Lucien would divorce
+his wife, the Emperor would place him in the same position as his
+brothers, in the Imperial family, and would give him a throne, probably
+that of Portugal. He could continue to live quietly with Madame
+Jouberthou, if he wished, but she could never participate in the honors
+of royalty.
+
+Lucien refused absolutely to divorce his wife, and declined to be
+separated from his children: that was his last word. During this long
+interview, which lasted more than six hours, Napoleon exhausted all
+of his resources, both in the way of threats and of promises, in the
+effort to frighten or persuade his brother to comply with his wishes,
+but all in vain. At the end of the interview the brothers parted with
+much emotion, and Lucien returned to Rome.
+
+The next day the Emperor left for Milan, where on the 17 December he
+issued the famous Decree declaring the British Isles in a state of
+blockade both by land and by sea.
+
+On the 20 December, in the grand hall of the Royal Palace, Napoleon
+adopted Eugène as his son, and as his presumptive successor to the
+crown of Italy. At the same time he gave to Eugène the title of Prince
+of Venice, and to his daughter that of Princesse de Bologna.
+
+On the 24 December the Emperor left Milan for Paris, where he arrived
+on the night of the first day of January 1808. During this long absence
+of nearly seven weeks Napoleon only wrote Joséphine three short letters:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Paris_
+
+ MILAN, 25 November 1807
+
+ I have been here, mon amie, for two days. I am very glad that
+ I did not bring you; you would have suffered terribly in the
+ passage of Mont-Cenis, where a storm detained me twenty-four
+ hours.
+
+ I found Eugène very well; I am well satisfied with him. The
+ princesse is ill; I have been to see her at Monza; she has had a
+ _fausse couche_, but is better.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ VENICE, 30 November 1807
+
+ I am in receipt your letter of the 22 November. I have been at
+ Venice for two days. The weather is very bad, which however
+ has not prevented me from traversing the lagoons to see the
+ different forts.
+
+ I am glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself at Paris.
+
+ The King of Bavaria, with his family, also the Princesse Élisa,
+ are here.
+
+ After the 2 December (anniversary of the Coronation), which I
+ shall pass here, I shall be on my way home, and very glad to see
+ you.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ UDINE, 11 December 1807
+
+ I have received, mon amie, your letter of the 3 December, from
+ which I see that you were much pleased with the Jardin des
+ Plantes. I am now at the most distant point of my trip; it is
+ possible that I shall soon be at Paris, where I shall be very
+ glad to see you again. The weather here has not yet been very
+ cold, but is very rainy. I have taken advantage of the last
+ moment of the season, for I suppose that by Christmas the winter
+ will have set in.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
+
+ 1808
+
+ THE EMPRESS AT BAYONNE
+
+ Joséphine’s Fear of Divorce--Irresolution of the Emperor--A
+ Remarkable Episode--Marriage of Mlle. de Tascher--The Spanish
+ Crisis--Abdication of King Charles--Murat Enters Madrid--The
+ Emperor Goes to Bayonne--His Sojourn at Marrac--Letters to the
+ Empress at Bordeaux--Birth of Louis-Napoleon--Joy of Napoleon
+ and Joséphine--Charles Cedes the Spanish Crown--Joseph Appointed
+ King--The Baylen Disaster--Return of the Emperor and Empress
+
+
+When Napoleon arrived at the Tuileries at nine o’clock on the evening
+of the first day of January 1808, Joséphine threw herself into his
+arms and tenderly wished him a Happy New Year. Since the visit to
+Fontainebleau the Empress had known little peace of mind; she lived in
+the constant apprehension of a renewal of the projects for a divorce.
+She no longer treated Napoleon with the familiarity of other days, but
+addressed him as a sovereign rather than as a husband.
+
+The winter season at Paris was never more brilliant. Every evening
+there were concerts, balls, formal dinners. The Court of the Empress
+was as well attended as formerly: in outward appearances nothing had
+changed. Joséphine, who did the honors of the Tuileries with her usual
+grace, was as much admired as ever. The Emperor, still undecided,
+vacillated between the voice of his heart and the demands of State
+policy. He said to Talleyrand: “If I separate from my wife I shall
+renounce at once all the charm she brings to my private life. I must
+study the tastes and habits of a new and young wife. This one adapts
+herself in every way and knows me perfectly. Finally, I shall repay
+with ingratitude all that she has done for me; for me she is a tie with
+many people.”
+
+One evening when there was a reception at the Château, the Emperor
+failed to appear, and it was announced that he was indisposed. After
+dining with the Emperor as usual at six o’clock, Joséphine had gone to
+her room to change her dress for the evening. When she was ready for
+the reception a chamberlain came to tell her that the Emperor was ill,
+and she rushed to his side. She found Napoleon in a state of great
+nervous excitement. He wept, and pressed her in his arms, without any
+regard for her elegant toilette, crying: “No, my poor Joséphine, I
+can never leave thee!” Instead of joining her guests, Joséphine was
+compelled to pass the night with her husband, and it was not until
+morning that he recovered his equanimity. “What a devil of a man!”
+said Talleyrand in disgust, when the astonished assembly was curtly
+dismissed, “what a devil of a man, to give way continually to his first
+impulse, and never to know what he wants to do!”
+
+On the first of February, at the hôtel of Queen Hortense, Rue Cerutti,
+was celebrated the marriage of Prince d’Arenberg and Mlle. Stéphanie de
+Tascher, Joséphine’s cousin and goddaughter, who had been created an
+Imperial princesse by the Emperor on the occasion of the signing of
+the contract. During the Consulate her hand had been asked in marriage
+by General Rapp, one of the favorite aides de camp of Napoleon, but
+Joséphine, who retained many of the prejudices of the Ancien Régime,
+refused her consent. This Arenberg marriage was not a success; the
+princesse could not endure her husband and refused to live with him. At
+a later date the marriage was annulled and she espoused Comte de Guitry.
+
+In the midst of his domestic preoccupations the Emperor had not ceased
+to follow closely the course of events in Spain. The Spanish Bourbons
+were descended from a grandson of Louis the Fourteenth, Philip of
+Anjou, who became King of Spain in 1700 under the title of Philip the
+Fifth. At the beginning of 1808 the royal family of Spain comprised
+the King, Charles the Fourth, a man of sixty; his wife, Marie-Louise,
+who was three years younger, and their son, Ferdinand, Prince of the
+Asturias, a boy of twenty. To this interesting group must be added the
+Queen’s lover, Godoy, Prince of the Peace. Ferdinand had formed a plan
+of seizing the government, but the plot was betrayed to the King, and
+he was put under arrest.
+
+Portugal had refused to accept the Berlin Decree of Napoleon,
+prohibiting the importation of English goods, and Napoleon had arranged
+with the Czar at Tilsit for the occupation and dismemberment of that
+country. While the above events were happening at Madrid, Junot, at
+the head of a French army of 25,000 men, had advanced to the gates of
+Lisbon. Before his arrival, the royal family embarked on the fleet and
+sailed for Brazil.
+
+On the 20 February 1808 the Emperor appointed Murat his lieutenant
+to command the French troops in Spain, and a week later he announced
+to the Court of Madrid his intention to annex to the French Empire
+all of Spain north of the Ebro, giving the Spanish Crown, by way of
+compensation, all of Portugal. Alarmed at this proposition Charles made
+preparations to flee the country, but the news became known, there was
+a popular uprising, and he abdicated the throne in favor of his son.
+
+In the meantime the French army under Murat was advancing on Madrid,
+and on the 23 March it entered the city. Charles now wrote the
+Emperor that his abdication had been forced upon him, and asked to be
+reinstated upon his throne. Ferdinand also presented his claims at the
+same time, and Napoleon invited all of the interested parties to meet
+him at Bayonne for a conference.
+
+On the second day of April the Emperor quietly left Saint-Cloud,
+ostensibly for a visit to the South of France. He was not accompanied
+by Joséphine, but it was arranged that she was to follow him a few days
+later. Napoleon reached Bordeaux on the fourth, and Joséphine on the
+tenth. On the 13 April the Emperor proceeded to Bayonne. Two days after
+his arrival he inspected the château of Marrac, located about a league
+from the city, which he arranged to purchase for his residence. It was
+only an ordinary country mansion, and altogether too small to lodge
+comfortably the Emperor and his suite.
+
+During his sojourn at Bayonne the Emperor held frequent reviews of his
+troops, passing through on their way to Spain, as many as a hundred
+thousand men defiling under his eyes. He went out daily and loved the
+promenades upon the Adour towards Boucau. He never announced in advance
+either the hour or the course of these excursions, often changing the
+direction and returning to the château from the point where he was
+least expected. Often he directed his steps towards a dove-cote in the
+form of a small tower, which was located at the extremity of the outer
+wall of the park. From there he descended to the banks of the Nive, and
+went nearly every day, sometimes on foot, and sometimes in a boat, to
+visit his sister Caroline, who was living at Lauga.
+
+On the 20 April the Emperor received Prince Ferdinand, who arrived that
+day, and entertained him at dinner. Six days later the Prince de la
+Paix appeared, and had a long conference with Napoleon. On the 27 April
+Joséphine came from Bordeaux. During this fortnight the Emperor sent
+Joséphine four letters:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Bordeaux_
+
+ BAYONNE, 16 April 1808
+
+ I arrived here very well, but somewhat fatigued by the route,
+ which is dismal and very poor.
+
+ I am very glad that you remained, for the houses here are very
+ small and very bad.
+
+ I am going to-day to a little house in the country, half a
+ league from the city.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; good health.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+ 17 April 1808
+
+ I have your letter of the 15 April. What you tell me of the
+ country landowner gives me pleasure; go sometimes and pass the
+ day there.
+
+ I have given orders to add 20,000 francs a month to your
+ allowance, during the trip, to date from the first of April.
+
+ I am horribly lodged. In a half-hour I am going to change, and
+ take up my residence in a small country house at a distance of
+ half a league. The infante Don Carlos, and five or six Spanish
+ grandees are here; the Prince of the Asturias is twenty leagues
+ away. King Charles and the Queen are arriving. I do not know
+ where I shall lodge all these people. Everything is still at the
+ inn. My troops in Spain are well.
+
+ It took me a moment to understand your _gentillesses_; I
+ laughed over your souvenirs. You women certainly have a memory!
+
+ My health is quite good, and I love you very dearly. It is my
+ desire that you be very friendly with everybody at Bordeaux; my
+ affairs did not permit me to do so personally.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ 21 April 1808
+
+ I have your letter of the 19 April. Yesterday I had the Prince
+ of the Asturias and his suite to dinner; that gave me much
+ trouble. I await Charles the Fourth and the Queen.
+
+ My health is good. I am now quite well established in the
+ country.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; I always receive news of you with the greatest
+ pleasure.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ BAYONNE, 23 April 1808
+
+ Mon amie, Hortense has a son; this has greatly rejoiced me. I am
+ not surprised that you do not speak of it, for your letter is
+ dated the twenty-first, and she was confined during the night of
+ the twentieth.
+
+ You can set out the twenty-sixth, pass the night at
+ Mont-de-Marsan, and arrive here the twenty-seventh. I am
+ arranging for you here a small country house beside the one
+ which I occupy. My health is good.
+
+ I am looking for Charles the Fourth and his wife.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The child referred to in the Emperor’s last letter was Louis-Napoleon,
+the future Napoleon the Third, Emperor of the French. He was born in
+Paris on the 20 April 1808 at the town-house of Queen Hortense, in
+Rue Cerutti, and not at the Tuileries, as erroneously stated by many
+historians. By the express orders of the Emperor, who sent Hortense a
+letter of congratulations, he was called Charles-Louis-Napoleon, in
+honor of his grandfather Bonaparte, his father, and his uncle.
+
+Joséphine’s first letter to her daughter, written on the 23 April,
+begins in a jubilant tone: “I am at the summit of joy, my dear
+Hortense.... I know Napoleon is consoled at not having a sister and
+that he already loves his brother very much. Kiss them both for me.”
+
+Two days later she wrote again: “I am just in receipt, my dear
+Hortense, of a letter from the Emperor...; he is perfectly delighted.
+At the same time he summons me to rejoin him at Bayonne. You can
+imagine, my dear daughter, that it is a great pleasure for me not
+to be away from the Emperor, so I set out early to-morrow morning.
+I am pleased at the news I receive of your health. I beg you always
+to take good care of yourself, and above all not to receive company
+these first few days. I cannot write you again for two or three days,
+but shall think of you every moment. I embrace you. Adieu, my dear
+Hortense.”
+
+Joséphine had the great satisfaction of finding Napoleon in a most
+loving mood toward her. He spent all of his spare time with her
+and displayed unusual signs of good humor. One day, on the beach,
+undeterred by the presence of the escort, he chased her over the sands
+and pushed her into the water; another time, he picked up a shoe which
+fell off her foot as she got into a carriage, and flung it away, in
+great glee over the idea that she would have to go home without one.
+
+On the last day of April the Spanish sovereigns arrived at the
+government palace at Bayonne; the Emperor immediately called on them,
+and that evening entertained them at dinner at Marrac.
+
+On the 5 May, when the Emperor, after déjeuner, was riding with Savary,
+he received the news of the uprising at Madrid three days before. He
+immediately galloped to Bayonne, where he had a spirited interview with
+Charles and his son. To Ferdinand he said: “Prince, up to this moment I
+have taken no stand in the controversy which has brought you here, but
+the blood shed at Madrid ends my irresolution. I shall never recognize
+as King of Spain the person who, by ordering the murder of French
+soldiers, has been the first to break the alliance which has so long
+united our two countries.... I have no ties except with your father: I
+recognize him as King, and will escort him to Madrid if he so desires.”
+
+The Prince made no reply, but Charles, with the visions of Charles
+the First and Louis the Sixteenth ever troubling his thoughts, had no
+desire to remount his precarious throne. That same evening, by a treaty
+signed for the Emperor by Duroc, and for the King by the Prince de la
+Paix, Charles ceded to Napoleon the crown of Spain and of the Indies in
+exchange for the use of the château and forest of Compiègne, the title
+in perpetuity to the château of Chambord, and a civil list of seven
+millions and a half to be paid by the French Government. By another
+convention, signed on the 10 May, Ferdinand also ceded his rights to
+the crown. He was accorded the title in France of Royal Highness;
+received for himself and his descendants the château of Navarre; and
+was given an allowance of a million francs. Such was the price of the
+magnificent heritage of Charles-Quint!
+
+On the 4 June, by an official act, Napoleon ceded to his brother Joseph
+all of the rights acquired under the above treaties. Three days later
+the new King of Spain arrived at Bayonne, and that evening attended a
+grand dinner given by the Emperor at Marrac, at which were also present
+the members of the Grand Junta of Spain, who had been summoned by
+Napoleon two weeks before.
+
+Napoleon had reached the turning point of his career. With easy
+confidence and a light heart he embarked on an enterprise which was to
+baffle him at every stage, to drain his resources, to cost him three
+hundred thousand valuable lives, and to end in absolute failure. At
+Saint Helena he said: “It was the Spanish ulcer which ruined me!”
+
+The first week in July the Junta accepted the new constitution drawn up
+for Joseph under Napoleon’s orders, and a few days later the new king
+left for Madrid.
+
+Napoleon started homeward again in company with Joséphine. It was
+arranged that they should travel together as far as Toulouse, whence
+the Emperor was to go to Bordeaux, and Joséphine to take the waters
+at Barèges. The Emperor reached Bordeaux on the 31 July, and there he
+learned, two days later, of the capitulation of Dupont at Baylen with
+an army of 20,000 men, and the flight of King Joseph from Madrid. It
+was the first serious disaster to the imperial arms, and Napoleon was
+wild with rage at this blow to his prestige.
+
+The Emperor at once realized the necessity of his own presence in the
+Peninsula, but before going there he wished to organize a well-equipped
+army, and also to assure himself of the solidarity of his alliance with
+the Czar. This meant a return to Paris, and Joséphine received orders
+to abandon her trip to Barèges and rejoin the Emperor.
+
+On his way home the Emperor visited Rochefort and La Rochelle, and then
+in company with Joséphine, who had rejoined him, he proceeded by way
+of Tours and Blois to Saint-Cloud, where he arrived on the eve of his
+fête.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
+
+ 1808–1809
+
+ A YEAR OF ANXIETY
+
+ The Erfurt Conference--Joséphine Left at Paris--Napoleon
+ Opens His Heart to Alexander--Talleyrand Instructed to
+ Begin Negotiations for an Alliance--Napoleon’s Letters to
+ Joséphine--He Leaves for Spain--The Peninsula Campaign--Pursuit
+ of the English--Bad News from Paris--The Emperor’s
+ Correspondence--His Return to Paris--Scene at the Tuileries--The
+ Succession Plot--Joséphine’s Revelations--She Accompanies
+ Napoleon to Strasbourg--The Emperor Wounded at Ratisbon--His
+ Letters During the Campaign--End of the War--Napoleon Leaves for
+ Fontainebleau
+
+
+The last year that Joséphine was destined to wear the imperial crown
+was for her a period of constant anxiety. She knew that the divorce was
+inevitable, and that her days upon the throne were numbered. Before the
+fatal decree was passed, however, she had yet many trials to endure.
+From the date that the Emperor left for Erfurt to that eventful evening
+in December 1809, she saw but little of her husband, who was absent
+from France the greater part of the time.
+
+Returning from Bayonne on the 14 August, the Emperor immediately began
+preparations on a large scale to put down the revolt in Spain and
+restore his brother to the throne. For the sake of his own prestige
+also it was necessary as soon as possible to repair the damage done by
+the capitulation of General Dupont. He had therefore decided to enter
+Spain himself at the head of the Grand Army, the invincible veterans
+of Austerlitz, Jena and Friedland. Before leaving for the Peninsula,
+however, he wished to feel certain that there would be no change in
+the political situation during his absence. Above all he wanted the
+assurance that his new ally, the Czar, was still as favorably disposed
+towards him as when they parted at Tilsit the previous year. He
+therefore suggested an interview, and Alexander accepted. The meeting
+took place at the little German city of Erfurt, and lasted from the
+27 September to the 14 October. All of the allies of the Emperor were
+present: the kings of Bavaria, Würtemberg, Saxony and Westphalia; the
+Prince-Primate, and all the princes of the Confederation of the Rhine.
+The actors of the Comédie-Française, summoned from Paris, played before
+a “parterre of kings.”
+
+To her great regret, Joséphine was not allowed to accompany the
+Emperor, and she divined that her divorce would be one of the subjects
+of discussion. In this she was not mistaken. The Czar had two sisters
+of a marriageable age: the grand duchesses Catherine and Anne, and
+Napoleon had thought of the elder as a possible wife. At one of their
+conferences the Emperor broached the subject by saying to Alexander:
+
+“This life of agitation wearies me. I need rest, and look forward to
+nothing so much as the moment when without anxiety I can seek the joys
+of domestic life, which appeals to all my tastes. But this happiness is
+not for me. What domesticity is there without children? And can I have
+any? My wife is ten years older than myself. I must ask your pardon. It
+is perhaps ridiculous of me to tell you all this, but I am yielding to
+the impulse of my heart which finds pleasure in opening itself out to
+you.”
+
+It is perhaps unnecessary to state that Napoleon was not yielding to
+the impulse of his heart, but to the calculations of his ambition,
+or the demands of his policy. He was broaching the subject, which he
+proposed to have followed up by Talleyrand, whom he had brought to
+Erfurt for that very purpose. He was about to commit these delicate
+negotiations to that wily diplomat, who had already made up his mind to
+betray him.
+
+The evening of that same day the Emperor had a long conversation with
+Talleyrand, regarding the divorce. As reported by Talleyrand in his
+_Mémoires_, he said:
+
+“My destiny requires it, and the tranquillity of France demands it.
+I have no successor. Joseph amounts to nothing, and he has only
+daughters. It is I who must found the dynasty, and I cannot do so
+without allying myself to a princess who belongs to one of the great
+ruling houses of Europe. The Emperor Alexander has sisters: one of
+them is of suitable age. Take the matter up with Romantzoff; tell him
+that as soon as this Spanish affair is settled, I will enter into all
+the Czar’s plans for the partition of Turkey. You will not lack for
+other arguments, for I know that you are a partisan of the divorce: the
+Empress Joséphine is also aware of the fact, I can inform you.”
+
+Talleyrand said in reply that he thought it would be better for him
+to take the matter up directly with the Czar, instead of his minister,
+and Napoleon acquiesced. Talleyrand, who well knew the feelings of the
+mother of Alexander, instead of loyally furthering the plans of his
+master, suggested to the Czar a dilatory policy, which would thwart the
+plans of Napoleon, without arousing his resentment. The unprincipled
+minister embraced this opportunity to begin to weave the plot which
+was finally to bring about the fall of the man he had always secretly
+detested.
+
+During his absence the Emperor sent Joséphine only three letters,
+all of them brief and insignificant. In the first, written two days
+after his arrival, he expressed his satisfaction with the Czar. In
+the second, ten days later, he says: “I have just hunted on the
+battle-field of Jena. We took breakfast on the spot where I passed
+the night at my bivouac. I attended a ball at Weimar. The Emperor
+Alexander dances; but I, no: forty years are forty years!” In his last
+letter, which bears no date, he again speaks of his satisfaction with
+Alexander, and says, “if the Czar were a woman I should be in love with
+him.”
+
+In spite of his great genius Napoleon was the dupe of this young
+Emperor, who, he thought, was his friend. From this interview he gained
+nothing except a breathing spell during which he could proceed, without
+danger of immediate interruption, to regulate his affairs in Spain.
+
+Between his return from Erfurt, and his departure for Spain, Napoleon
+spent only ten days with Joséphine at Saint-Cloud. During this
+time their relations were somewhat strained. The Emperor appeared
+embarrassed in the presence of his wife, as though he feared that,
+through some indiscretion, a report of his matrimonial projects might
+have reached her ears; and Joséphine, who both desired and feared to
+know the truth, did not venture to ask any questions. As usual, she
+wished to accompany the Emperor to the frontier, and it was almost by
+main force that he prevented her from entering the carriage which bore
+him away.
+
+Leaving Saint-Cloud on the 29 October, the Emperor reached Bayonne on
+the 3 November; a month later he was at the gates of Madrid, and the
+city capitulated the following day. During the three weeks which he
+spent at the capital, Napoleon resided at a small country mansion,
+Chamartin, a few miles north of the city. He was constantly occupied
+with plans for the upbuilding of the country. He had reinstated
+his brother on the throne, and if there had been time for the new
+institutions to take root, Spain to-day would be a far more progressive
+country.
+
+In the meantime, an English army under Sir John Moore had advanced on
+Burgos to cut the French line of communications, and on the 22 December
+the Emperor left Madrid with his Guard, to meet this new offensive.
+Moore learned of his danger in time and beat a hasty retreat. When he
+was at Astorga, on the first day of January 1809, Napoleon received a
+despatch from his old friend and aide de camp Lavalette, telling him
+of the intrigues of Talleyrand and Fouché with Murat and Caroline, and
+the armament of Austria. He turned over the pursuit of the English to
+Ney and Soult, and started for Valladolid. On the 17 January he set out
+for Paris, covering the distance of thirty leagues from Valladolid
+to Burgos in the remarkable time of six hours, upon his own horses,
+arranged in six relays. The following day he left this country, which
+he alone could have conquered, which he never was to see again, and
+which was destined to ruin his Empire. At eight o’clock on the morning
+of the 23 January he was back in the Tuileries.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+During his absence of twelve weeks Napoleon sent Joséphine fourteen
+letters, some of them brief and insignificant. The first five, from
+Marrac, Tolosa, Vittoria, Burgos, and Arranda, tell only of his
+progress, and the state of his health. After this, his letters are
+longer and more interesting.
+
+ _To the Empress, at Paris_
+
+ (CHAMARTIN), 7 December 1808
+
+ I am in receipt your letter of the 28 (November). I am glad to
+ hear that you are well.... My health is good. The weather here
+ is like the last half of May at Paris. It is warm, and we have
+ no fire, unless the night is cool.
+
+ Madrid is tranquil. All my affairs are going well.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ (CHAMARTIN), 10 December 1808
+
+ Mon amie, I have your letter. You tell me that the weather is
+ bad at Paris; here we are having the finest in the world. Tell
+ me, I pray you, what Hortense means by her reforms: they say she
+ is discharging her servants? Has any one refused her what she
+ needs? Send me a word on the subject; the reforms are not in
+ good taste.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.... All here goes very well, and I pray you to
+ take good care of yourself.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ (CHAMARTIN), 21 December 1808
+
+ You should have returned to the Tuileries the 12 (December). I
+ hope that you have been satisfied with your apartments....
+
+ Adieu, mon amie. I am well: the weather is rainy, and a little
+ cold.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ (CHAMARTIN), 22 December 1808
+
+ I leave immediately to manœuvre the English, who appear to have
+ received their reinforcements, and to desire to make their
+ swagger (_faire les crânes_). The weather is fine; my
+ health perfect. Have no anxiety.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ BENEVENTE, 31 December 1808
+
+ Mon amie, I have been in pursuit of the English for several
+ days, but they flee in terror. In order not to retard their
+ retreat for a half-day, they have basely abandoned the wreck
+ of the Romana army. More than one hundred baggage-wagons have
+ already been taken. The weather is very bad.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie. Bessières with 10,000 cavalry is at Astorga.
+
+ Happy New Year to everybody!
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ BENEVENTE, 5 January 1809
+
+ Mon amie, I am writing only a line. The English are completely
+ routed. I have ordered the Duc de Dalmatie (Soult) to pursue
+ them vigorously (_l’épée dans les reins_). I am well. The
+ weather is bad.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+ (VALLODOLID), 8 January 1809
+
+ I have your letters of the 23 and 26 (December). I am sorry
+ to hear that you are suffering from your teeth. I have been
+ here for two days. The weather is seasonable. The English are
+ embarking. I am well.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ I am writing to Hortense. Eugène has a daughter.
+
+ Tout à toi
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ (VALLODOLID), 9 January 1809
+
+ Moustache (a courier) has brought me your letter of the 31
+ December. I see, my friend, that you are sad, and that you are
+ very anxious. Austria will not go to war with me. If she does, I
+ have 150,000 men in Germany, as many on the Rhine, and 400,000
+ Germans to meet her. Russia will not abandon me. They are mad in
+ Paris; all goes well.
+
+ I shall be in Paris as soon as I think it necessary. I warn you
+ to beware of apparitions; one of these fine days at two o’clock
+ in the morning....
+
+ But adieu, mon amie; I am well, and ever yours
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+On the afternoon of the 23 January, the day of his return to Paris,
+all of the ministers and grand officers of the State called at the
+Tuileries to pay their homage to the Emperor. In the presence of this
+distinguished assembly, Napoleon severely rebuked Talleyrand and
+Fouché for the disgraceful intrigue which they had carried on during
+his absence. This reproof was not the cause of their hostility to the
+Emperor, as often stated, but it was the signal for the secret war
+which they levied against him from that time on.
+
+During the Campaign of Poland, in 1807, and again during the absence of
+the Emperor in Spain, the following year, the possibility of his death,
+and its effect on the dynasty, were seriously discussed at Paris. There
+were well-founded rumors of a project to place Murat on the throne, in
+case anything happened to Napoleon. Fouché and Talleyrand were in the
+plot, and the warmest advocate, if not the real instigator of the plan,
+was Napoleon’s ambitious sister Caroline.
+
+In this connection there is a record in the _Journal_ of Stanislas
+Girardin of a conversation which he had with Joséphine on the last day
+of February 1809, after his return from Spain. The Empress said to him:
+
+“While you were in Spain there were some curious _rapprochements_;
+irreconcilable enemies [Fouché and Talleyrand] have suddenly become
+reconciled; men who never saw each other have been seen together
+frequently.... This clique is powerful, and braves us; Fouché is its
+soul.
+
+“When Murat was given the throne of Naples, all the journals under the
+control of the police sang his praises.... Fouché said openly that
+Murat was the only successor of the Emperor, the only one who could
+inspire Europe with fear, and the only one who enjoyed the confidence
+of the Army. He wrote a letter to the Emperor in which he stated
+positively that France did not want any of his brothers as a successor.
+Fortunately the eyes of Bonaparte are opened since his return. The
+letter of which I speak is in existence: it is in the hands of Méneval
+[the Emperor’s secretary].”
+
+In spite of the assertions of Lanfrey and other historians, there is
+little doubt of the existence of this plot, but the Austrian menace
+probably had more weight in determining the Emperor to return from
+Spain. Austria thought that the moment was opportune to attempt to
+recover her lost possessions. The Archduke Charles, who was in command
+of the army, had made a supreme effort to raise a force capable of
+meeting Napoleon, and he had done his work well.
+
+Late on the 12 April Napoleon was informed by a semaphore message that
+the Austrian army had crossed the Inn and invaded the territory of his
+ally the King of Bavaria. At daybreak the next morning, accompanied by
+Joséphine, he started for Strasbourg, where he arrived in forty-eight
+hours. He left the Empress there and immediately crossed the Rhine.
+
+During the following week, in one of the most brilliant operations of
+his career, the Emperor won two decisive victories, and completely
+crushed the Austrian offensive. Eighteen days later he was once more
+quartered in the palace of Schœnbrunn at Vienna.
+
+On the 23 April, before Ratisbon, Napoleon was slightly wounded by
+a spent bullet which struck him in the right heel. This is the only
+wound he is ever known to have received, except a bayonet thrust in the
+thigh at the siege of Toulon; but at the time of the autopsy, after
+his death at Saint Helena, several scars were found on his body. This
+seems to prove that he was hit on other occasions, but was successful
+in concealing the fact.
+
+Joséphine remained for several weeks at Strasbourg, where she was
+visited by Hortense and her sons, by the Queen of Westphalia and the
+Grand Duchess of Baden.
+
+The story of the campaign is told in several brief letters from the
+Emperor:
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ DONAUWŒRTH, 18 April 1809
+
+ I reached here at four o’clock this morning, and am leaving.
+ Everything is in motion. There is great activity in the military
+ operations. Up to this moment there is no news.
+
+ ENNS, Noon, 6 May 1809
+
+ I have received your letter. The ball which touched me, did not
+ wound me: it hardly grazed the tendon of Achilles. My health is
+ very good. You have no need for anxiety.
+
+ SAINT-POLTEN, 9 May 1809
+
+ To-morrow I shall be before Vienna--just a month from the day
+ that the Austrians crossed the Inn, and broke the peace. My
+ health is good, the weather superb, and the soldiers very gay.
+
+ VIENNA, 12 May 1809
+
+ I am sending the brother of the Duchesse de Montebello to tell
+ you that I am master of Vienna, and that all here is well. My
+ health is very good.
+
+ VIENNA, 27 May 1809
+
+ I am sending a page to inform you that Eugène has joined me with
+ his entire army; that he has performed perfectly the task that I
+ assigned him; that he has almost entirely destroyed the force of
+ the enemy which opposed him.
+
+
+ EBERSDORF, 29 May 1809
+
+ I have been here since yesterday; I am stopped by the river. The
+ bridge has been burned: I shall cross at midnight. Everything
+ goes as I would desire, that is to say very well. The Austrians
+ have been struck by a thunderbolt.
+
+It would be impossible for any one reading the last two letters to
+imagine that they were written a week after the terrible two-days’
+battle of Aspern-Essling, in which Napoleon received one of the worst
+reverses in his career. In his next letter he alludes to a visit of
+Hortense and her sons, without his permission, to the baths of Baden;
+and also to the death of his old companion-in-arms, Lannes, who was
+mortally wounded just at the end of the battle of Essling.
+
+ _To the Empress, at Strasbourg_
+
+ (EBERSDORF), 31 May 1809
+
+ I have your letter of the 26. I have written you that you may
+ go to Plombières. I do not care to have you go to Baden: you
+ must not leave France. I have ordered the two princes to return
+ to France. I have been much afflicted by the loss of the Duc de
+ Montebello, who died this morning. Thus all comes to an end!! If
+ you can help to console his poor wife, do so.
+
+ (VIENNA) 9 June 1809
+
+ I am glad to learn that you are going to the waters of
+ Plombières; they will do you good. I am well, and the weather
+ is very fine. I note with pleasure that Hortense and her son
+ are in France.
+
+
+ SCHŒNBRUNN, 16 June 1809
+
+ I am sending a page to announce that the 14, anniversary of
+ Marengo, Eugène gained a battle against the Archduke John at
+ Raab, in Hungary; that he has taken 3000 men, several cannon,
+ four flags; and has pursued them very far on the road to Bude.
+
+Early in June, Hortense left her mother to go to the baths in the
+Pyrenees, and Joséphine went to Plombières. Here she received the news
+of the great victory of Wagram, and of the armistice of Znaïm. On
+the 13 July the Emperor was again back at Vienna, where he remained
+until the final peace was signed on the 14 October. It is rather
+remarkable to note that, although he had Madame Walewska with him, his
+brief letters are more tender than for several years. In one he says:
+“Good-bye, mon amie, you know my feelings for Joséphine: they are
+unchangeable.” Two letters written from Vienna in August, and one in
+September, are even more notable. At this time Joséphine had gone from
+Plombières to Malmaison. “I have heard,” he writes on the 26 August,
+“that you are fat, fresh, and looking very well. I assure you that
+Vienna is not an amusing town. I should much like to be back again in
+Paris.” Five days later he says: “I have received no letters from you
+for several days. The pleasures of Malmaison, the beautiful hothouses,
+the fine gardens, cause the absent to be forgotten. That is the way
+with you all, they say.” Finally, on the 25 September: “I have your
+letter. Do not be too sure. I warn you to look after yourself well at
+night; for one of these early ones you will hear a great noise!”
+
+From Munich on the 21 and 22 October 1809, the Emperor sent Joséphine
+the last letters he wrote during the Campaign of Wagram, the last also
+which she was to receive from him before the divorce.
+
+ _To the Empress, at Malmaison_
+
+ NYMPHENBOURG, near MUNICH, 21 October 1809
+
+ I have been here since yesterday, in good health. I do not
+ expect to start to-morrow. I shall stop a day at Stuttgart. You
+ will be notified twenty-four hours in advance of my arrival at
+ Fontainebleau. It will be a treat for me to see you again, and I
+ await the moment with impatience.
+
+ I embrace you.
+
+ Ever yours
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ MUNICH, (22 October 1809)
+
+ Mon amie, I start in an hour. I shall arrive at Fontainebleau
+ the 26 or 27; you can go there with some ladies.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
+
+ 1809
+
+ RETURN OF THE EMPEROR
+
+ Napoleon Arrives at Fontainebleau--He Informs Cambacérès of
+ the Coming Divorce--His Cold Reception of Joséphine--She
+ Finds the Door of Communication Closed--Hesitation of the
+ Emperor--Joséphine at Forty-six--Napoleon Breaks the Fatal
+ News--The Scene of the 30 November--A Comic Episode--The Verdict
+ of History--Napoleon’s Sincere Regret--His Interview with
+ Hortense--The Final Fêtes--An Unfortunate _Contretemps_ at
+ Grosbois
+
+
+The Emperor reached Fontainebleau on his return from Vienna at nine
+o’clock on the morning of the 26 October. He had travelled with such
+rapidity that he arrived a day sooner than he was expected, and found
+no one to receive him except the concierge. To pass away the time he
+inspected the new apartments in the château which he had had furnished
+with great magnificence.
+
+A little later Cambacérès appeared, in advance of the other courtiers.
+The failure of the Empress to meet him, which was in no way her fault,
+seemed to have put Napoleon in very bad humor, and he openly declared
+to the arch-chancellor his fixed intention of repudiating Joséphine,
+and espousing either a Russian or an Austrian princess. Cambacérès,
+who was devoted to the Empress, ventured some timid and respectful
+remonstrances, but was immediately silenced.
+
+At this time Napoleon was truly the “spoilt child of Fortune.” More
+absolute and more imperious than ever, he no longer allowed even a
+suggestion from his family or his ministers: every one obeyed and kept
+silent. In the words of Monsieur Thiers: “His all-powerful nature had
+completely blossomed out, and it was to fade away like his fortune, for
+nothing stands still.”
+
+Next came Fouché, and the wily Minister of Police was not slow to take
+advantage of the Emperor’s feeling to make an indirect attack on the
+absent Joséphine. “There is not one of your marshals,” he said, “who is
+not considering how to dispose of your estate if we have the misfortune
+to lose you. It is a case of Alexander’s lieutenants eager for their
+kingdoms.”
+
+After these conversations with his ministers, the Emperor went to his
+library and began to write. Late in the afternoon he heard the noise of
+a carriage arriving in the court, and rushed down stairs. But it was
+not the Empress, and he returned to his work.
+
+An hour later Joséphine finally arrived. She had made all possible
+haste to come from Saint-Cloud as soon as she was informed of the
+return of the Emperor. Seeing that Napoleon did not come to meet her,
+with a heavy heart she mounted the stairway, and entered the library,
+where she found Napoleon seated at his writing-table. “Ah! there you
+are at last,” he exclaimed. “You did well to come, for I was about to
+leave for Saint-Cloud.” At this brutal welcome, after a separation of
+six months, the eyes of Joséphine filled with tears, and she swayed
+as though she were about to fall. Napoleon at once relented, took her
+in his arms, and tenderly embraced her. Joséphine then went to her
+apartment to change her toilette for dinner.
+
+An hour and a half later she reappeared, resplendent in a new gown
+which became her marvellously. To avoid the embarrassment of a
+tête-à-tête meal, the Emperor invited two of his ministers, who were
+working with him, to dine with them. Forgetting his bad humor, he
+showed himself quite amiable.
+
+But the evening was not to end without another rude shock to Joséphine.
+On going to her rooms for the night she discovered for the first time
+that, during the recent alterations to the château, the inner door
+which communicated with the Emperor’s suite had been closed. This was
+a significant fact which she did not fail to appreciate. She did not
+dare to ask the Emperor for an explanation, but the next morning she
+questioned M. de Bausset, the prefect of the palace. He professed his
+ignorance of the change, and Joséphine said: “You may be sure that
+there is some mystery attached to it.” To a woman of her intelligence,
+however, there was very little mystery about the matter. She fully
+understood that the divorce was now only a question of days. Yet when
+they left Fontainebleau for Paris on the 14 November, the Emperor had
+not spoken, and Joséphine again began “to hope against hope.”
+
+At Paris there was soon a regular assembly of crowned heads. The
+King of Saxony was already there, and a few days later there arrived
+the kings of Naples, Westphalia and Holland, and the princes of the
+Confederation of the Rhine. Ségur, the grand-master of ceremonies,
+had difficulty in finding suitable quarters for so many exalted
+personages, and complained that he was troubled by an “embarras de
+rois.” It was surely an irony of fate that the imperial Court had never
+been so brilliant and so attractive as when the gracious Joséphine was
+about to leave it forever.
+
+Napoleon, usually so prompt to put his plans into execution, did not
+seem to be able to make up his mind to sever finally the tie which
+bound him to the woman who for fourteen years had been associated with
+his destiny, and who recalled the most brilliant days of his youth and
+his glory. M. de Bausset draws this sketch of Joséphine at the time of
+the divorce:
+
+“The Empress was forty-six years old. No woman could have more grace
+of manner and bearing. Her eyes were enchanting, her smile full of
+charm, her voice of an extreme softness, her form noble, supple,
+perfect. Her toilette, always elegant and in perfect taste, made her
+appear much younger than she really was. But all this was as nothing
+beside the goodness of her heart. Her spirit was amiable; never did she
+wound the self-love of any one, never had she anything disagreeable to
+say. Her disposition was always even and placid. Devoted to Napoleon,
+she communicated to him, without his perceiving it, her kindness and
+goodness.”
+
+ [Illustration: EMPRESS JOSÉPHINE]
+
+A still more intimate observer, Mlle. Avrillon, gives us another view
+of Joséphine at this same time. She says: “The Empress, constantly in
+tears, endeavored to hide them from the persons around her; but it
+did not take a very discerning eye to perceive that her happiness was
+destroyed forever, for she lived in a state of continual agitation.
+It is really impossible for me to say whether she was rendered more
+unhappy by the blow she received than by all the preliminaries of
+the event itself. As, notwithstanding the conviction of her future, she
+still preserved, if not hope, at least a vague feeling of uncertainty,
+every time that a minister or a grand dignitary of the Empire came to
+see her, she pressed him with indirect questions, tormented equally by
+the desire to know her fate and the fear to learn it.”
+
+Finally, on the last day of November, Napoleon found the courage to
+break the fatal news. “What a scene for a tragedy!” he said himself, in
+speaking later of the events of that evening at the Tuileries.
+
+Joséphine dined alone with the Emperor in a room adjoining his chamber
+on the first floor. She wore a large white hat which partly concealed
+her face. Not a word was spoken, and neither of them touched the
+courses which were placed before them, and then silently removed.
+After dinner they went into the salon on the other side of the palace,
+between the Throne Room and the Gallery of Diana. After a moment of
+silence, Napoleon began to speak. He said that the safety of the
+Empire demanded a momentous resolution, and that he counted on all of
+her courage and devotion to consent to a step upon which he himself,
+with the greatest reluctance, had decided--the dissolution of their
+marriage. Joséphine made no reply. She burst into tears, and then fell,
+apparently in a dead faint, upon the floor.
+
+Greatly agitated, the Emperor opened the door of the salon, and
+called M. de Bausset, who was on duty that evening. After closing the
+door, Napoleon asked the prefect if he was strong enough to lift the
+Empress, and carry her by the interior staircase to her apartment
+on the ground floor. Bausset, a large, stout man, took Joséphine in
+his arms, and followed Napoleon, who led the way, holding a candle in
+his hand. When the staircase was reached, Bausset saw that it was too
+narrow for him to descend with such a burden. The Emperor thereupon
+called an attendant, gave him the candle, and told him to light the
+way. Then he relieved Bausset of the Empress’ legs, allowing him to
+support her body. In this manner, the descent was begun, Napoleon
+walking backwards and Bausset following, supporting Joséphine with his
+arms around her waist and her head resting on his shoulder. Suddenly he
+heard her voice, whispering to him softly: “Take care! you hurt me; you
+are holding me too tight.”
+
+The descent was finished without other incidents, and Joséphine, still
+in a swoon, was placed upon a sofa, and her maids called. The Emperor
+then left her in their care, and withdrew from the room, with his eyes
+filled with tears, and every sign of the deepest agitation. It would be
+difficult to believe this little episode of the stairway if the story
+were not related by such a devoted servant of the Empress as M. de
+Bausset.
+
+If there is anything certain in this world, it is that Napoleon from
+the first always loved Joséphine with a devotion which far exceeded her
+attachment for him, and that he continued to love her until his life’s
+end. Yet History will never forgive him for finally allowing his duty
+to the Empire to overcome his affections. It is easy to condemn his
+action as heartless, or as dictated by ambition, but nothing is gained
+by calling names. If it were not for the fantastic connection which
+has been imagined between the fortunes of Napoleon and the “guiding
+star of his life,” we should not have heard so much in condemnation of
+his divorce, which certainly was dictated by the most powerful reasons
+of State. The case is not altered by the fact that his second marriage
+was a dismal failure; or, as he himself once expressed it, that the
+Austrian alliance was “an abyss covered with flowers.” It is a striking
+instance of the shortness of human foresight that a step taken to
+assure the safety of the Empire was to be the principal cause of its
+fall.
+
+In his trouble, after this trying scene with Joséphine, Napoleon opened
+up his heart to Bausset. In a voice broken by emotion he said: “The
+interests of France and of my dynasty have forced my heart; the divorce
+has become for me a rigorous duty.... I am all the more afflicted by
+the scene which I have just had with Joséphine because for three days
+she must have known through Hortense the unfortunate obligation which
+condemns me to seek a separation from her.... I pity her from the
+bottom of my heart; I thought that she had more character, and I was
+not prepared for the manifestation of her grief.” After each sentence
+he paused to catch his breath, and displayed every sign of the most
+poignant emotion.
+
+Then he sent for his personal physician, Corvisart; also for Hortense,
+Fouché, and Cambacérès. Before ascending to his own apartment, he
+went again to see Joséphine, whom he found calm and more resigned. He
+received the two ministers on their arrival, and afterwards had a long
+talk with Hortense.
+
+The interview with the Queen was very painful. He began in a tone of
+simulated harshness:
+
+“My decision is made,” he said. “Neither tears nor cries will affect
+a resolution which has become unavoidable, a resolution absolutely
+necessary for the safety of the Empire.”
+
+“Sire,” replied Hortense, “you will have neither tears nor cries. The
+Empress will not fail to submit to your wishes, and to descend from
+the throne, as she mounted it, by your will. Her children, content to
+renounce the grandeurs which have not made them happy, will willingly
+consecrate their lives to consoling the best and most tender of
+mothers.”
+
+“That cannot be,” cried Napoleon, much moved by her words. “Such an
+action would raise the suspicion of a veiled misunderstanding, either
+on your part towards me, or on my part towards your mother and her
+family.”
+
+“In our exile,” continued Hortense, “we shall never forget all that we
+owe to the Emperor.”
+
+“Ah! you will abandon me?” cried the Emperor, bursting into tears.
+“You, you, to whom I have been a father! No, you cannot do that! You
+will remain with me; the future of your children demands it.... No
+matter how great for us all is this cruel sacrifice, it must be carried
+out with the dignity imposed by circumstances.”
+
+The Emperor then outlined to Hortense his plans for Joséphine’s future:
+palaces, châteaux, a magnificent income, the first rank after the
+reigning Empress. Everything possible was to be done to dissemble the
+change in her situation which would result from the divorce. He then
+sent Hortense to see her mother and try to reconcile her.
+
+The night which followed was one of the saddest in the life of
+Napoleon. Several times he arose and descended to inform himself
+personally of the condition of Joséphine. He did not sleep at all.
+
+In the morning, when Mlle. Avrillon came, Joséphine called to her
+to approach the bed, and told her confidentially what had occurred.
+Seeing her air of consternation, Joséphine at once began to excuse the
+Emperor, saying: “He is in despair over our separation; he also cried,
+and assured me that it was the greatest sacrifice he could make for
+France. Yes, I well know that he must have an heir for his glory, a
+child who will consolidate his Empire.... He has told Hortense that
+he will always be the same for her and Eugène, and that he will often
+come to me in my retreat.... He has sworn that he will never compel me
+to leave France. He allows me to live at Malmaison..... He wishes me
+always to enjoy a position of consideration, and that I shall have an
+adequate income.”
+
+At that time there were no daily papers such as we have to-day, all
+eager for news; but the journals would not have ventured to publish the
+reports even if rumors of the coming event had leaked out. The secret
+seems to have been well kept by the few persons who knew it, and the
+Empress appeared as usual at several functions during the first two
+weeks of December. At the fêtes of this trying fortnight Napoleon was
+in public even more attentive to Joséphine than usual.
+
+On the first day of December the Emperor and Empress went to Malmaison
+where a fête was given in honor of the King of Saxony, at which were
+present the kings of Naples, Holland and Würtemberg, who arrived in
+Paris that day.
+
+An elaborate program had been arranged, to celebrate the double
+anniversary of the Coronation and the victory of Austerlitz, as well
+as the conclusion of the Treaty of Vienna. The festivals were to be
+prolonged over several days. On the third, in the morning, there was
+a _Te Deum_ at Notre-Dame; in the afternoon, the formal opening
+of the Corps Législatif; and in the evening, a State dinner at the
+Tuileries. On the fourth, in the morning there was a grand review in
+the court of the Tuileries, and in the evening the Emperor and Empress
+were present at a fête given at the Hôtel-de-Ville in honor of the
+Coronation. For this occasion the court of the Hôtel-de-Ville had been
+transformed into an enormous ball-room. The kings and queens danced in
+the quadrille d’honneur, after which the Emperor traversed the room,
+and addressed a few courteous words to many of the ladies present.
+
+On the seventh, there was a spectacle at the Tuileries, but this time
+the Empress did not appear. It was given out that she was suffering
+from a _migraine_: poor Joséphine had gone to the limits of her
+endurance. She was also absent from the side of the Emperor, when on
+the eighth he received in the Throne Room a deputation of the Corps
+Législatif. In his reply to the address the Emperor used a phrase
+which seemed to presage the coming event: “We shall always know how,
+my family and myself, to sacrifice even our dearest affections to the
+interests and the welfare of this great nation.”
+
+On the eleventh, Joséphine appeared in public with Napoleon for the
+last time, at a fête given at the château of Grosbois by Marshal
+Berthier, Prince de Neuchâtel et de Wagram. This fine residence had
+belonged before the Revolution to the Comte de Provence, and later to
+Barras and Moreau. The kings and princes then in Paris, and a large
+part of the Court, were present. There was a hunt during the day,
+followed in the evening by a dinner, a spectacle and a ball.
+
+The evening was marred by a most unfortunate _contretemps_.
+Berthier had arranged to entertain his guests with a comedy played by
+Brunet, one of the most popular actors of the day. Brunet, who was
+entirely ignorant of the coming event, chose from his répertoire a
+very droll little play which turned on the subject of divorce. Imagine
+the embarrassment, the stupefaction of poor Berthier, and the feelings
+of Napoleon and Joséphine, when the actor announced his intention of
+securing a divorce “pour avoir des ancêtres” (to have ancestors);
+followed by a change of mind, with the sage remark: “I know what my
+wife is, I do not know what the one I take may be like.”
+
+This scene of comedy, in the drama of divorce, was worthy of the pen of
+a Shakespeare. “Truth is stranger than fiction.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
+
+ 1809
+
+ THE DIVORCE
+
+ Eugène Reaches Paris--His Difficult Position--He Arranges a
+ Final Conference--Refuses the Crown of Italy--The Family Council
+ at the Tuileries--Address of the Emperor--Josephine’s Touching
+ Reply--Eugene’s Address to the Senate--Napoleon Leaves for the
+ Trianon--Josephine’s Departure from the Tuileries--Annulment of
+ the Religious Marriage--The Legend of Joséphine
+
+
+Prince Eugene arrived in Paris on the 8 December. At the time he
+left Milan he was still ignorant of the reasons for his summons, but
+Hortense, by order of the Emperor, met him at Nemours, a few miles
+south of Fontainebleau, and broke the sad news. Joséphine had looked
+forward to his arrival, with the hope that he might turn the Emperor
+from his purpose, even at the last moment; but this illusion was soon
+dissipated.
+
+The position of Eugène was very difficult. He was devoted to his
+mother, but he owed everything to the Emperor. It was not easy to
+reconcile his feeling of filial tenderness, with the respect and the
+gratitude which bound him to Napoleon. At his first interview he saw
+that the divorce was no longer an open question, and that it would be
+useless for him to raise any objections. He demanded the permission of
+the Emperor to retire to private life, saying that he could no longer
+hold the office of viceroy when his mother had ceased to be empress.
+To which the Emperor replied: “Do you not realize how imperious are
+the reasons which force me to take this step? If Heaven grants me the
+object of my dearest hopes, the son so necessary to me, who will take
+my place by his side when I am absent? Who will be to him a father, if
+I die? Who will bring him up? Who will make a man of him?”
+
+In order to settle the matter definitely, without any further delay,
+Eugène asked the Emperor to consent to a meeting with Joséphine, where,
+in his presence, they could have a final explanation. Napoleon agreed,
+and the conference was held that same evening.
+
+The Emperor stated that the divorce was an absolute necessity for the
+stability of the Empire. Joséphine in turn said that this consideration
+should outweigh any others, and that she was ready to make this
+sacrifice for her country. Then she added, bursting into tears: “As
+soon as we are separated, my children will be forgotten. Make Eugène
+King of Italy.”
+
+Eugène interrupted her with the indignant words: “No! I pray you, leave
+me out of the question. Your son does not wish for a crown, which
+would be the price of your separation. If you bow to the wishes of the
+Emperor, it is of you alone that he must think.” Napoleon was touched.
+“That is Eugène’s true heart,” he said. “He does well to trust to my
+affection.”
+
+Friday, the 15 December 1809, was the day chosen by the Emperor for the
+dissolution of his civil marriage. The Family Council assembled at nine
+o’clock in the evening at the Tuileries in the salon of the Emperor,
+on the first floor, between the Throne Room and the Gallery of Diana.
+All the members of the family were present except Joseph, who was in
+Spain, Lucien, who was still in disgrace, and Élisa, who was expecting
+a child. But Madame Mère, Louis, Jérôme and his wife, Pauline, Caroline
+and her husband, Murat, were there, together with Eugène and his sister
+as representatives of the Beauharnais. Cambacérès, the arch-chancellor,
+and Regnault, secretary of state, were also present.
+
+The palace was brilliantly illuminated, as on days of fête, and the
+whole Imperial family was in full Court dress. Joséphine wore a
+perfectly plain white robe, with no jewels. Although very pale, she
+seemed calmer than either Eugène or Hortense, who were much agitated.
+Around the room were arranged the seats for the members of the family,
+in due order of precedence: armchairs for the Emperor, Empress, and
+Madame Mère; chairs for the kings and queens; and stools for the others.
+
+When all had taken their places, the Emperor arose, and began to read
+his address:
+
+“The policy of my monarchy, the interests and the needs of my people,
+which have constantly guided my actions, demand that after myself, I
+leave to children, heirs of my love for my people, this throne upon
+which Providence has placed me. Nevertheless, for several years past, I
+have lost the hope of having children of my marriage with my well-loved
+spouse the Empress Joséphine. It is this which has led me to sacrifice
+the dearest affection of my heart, to listen only to the welfare of the
+State, and to desire the dissolution of our marriage.
+
+“Arrived at the age of forty years, I can conceive the hope of living
+long enough to bring up in my spirit and my thought the children
+whom it may please Providence to give me. God knows how much such
+a resolution has cost my heart; but there is no sacrifice above my
+courage, when it is proved to me that it is for the benefit of France.”
+
+The address of the Emperor had been carefully prepared and written out
+in advance, but departing now from the text he continued:
+
+“Far from ever having had to complain, I can, on the contrary, only
+rejoice over the affection and tenderness of my well-loved spouse.
+She has graced fifteen years of my life, and the memory of this will
+remain ever stamped upon my heart. She was crowned by my hand; I desire
+that she shall keep the rank and title of crowned Empress, but above
+all that she shall never doubt my feelings, and that she shall have me
+always as her best and dearest friend.”
+
+It was now the turn of Joséphine to speak. She also had modified the
+terms of the declaration prepared for her, which by its excess of
+adulation would have taken, from her lips, a tone of irony. The words
+which she used were well chosen, and apparently her own, as they were
+written in her clear hand upon her usual paper. Once more she had given
+proof of that tact which was one of her graces and her charms. But she
+had only read a few sentences when her voice became choked with tears,
+and she handed the paper to Regnault, who continued the discourse:
+
+“With the permission of our august and dear spouse, I declare that,
+since I have no hope of bearing children, who can satisfy the
+requirements of his policy and the interests of France, it is my
+pleasure to give him the greatest proof of attachment and devotion
+which was ever given on earth. I owe all to his bounty; it was his
+hand which crowned me, and seated me on this throne. I have received
+nothing but proofs of affection and love from the French people. I
+am recognizing all this, I believe, in consenting to the dissolution
+of a marriage which is now an obstacle to the welfare of France,
+and deprives her of the good fortune of being ruled one day by the
+descendants of a great man, plainly raised up by Providence, to remove
+the ill-effects of a terrible Revolution, and to set up again the
+altar, the throne, and the social order. But the dissolution of my
+marriage will make no change in the sentiments of my heart. The Emperor
+will always have in me his best friend. I know how much this act,
+which is made necessary by his policy and by such great interests, has
+wounded his heart; but we shall win glory, both of us, by the sacrifice
+which we have made in the interests of our country.”
+
+Not only her children, Eugène and Hortense, but even the hostile
+Bonapartes, were moved by these eloquent and touching words. The
+meeting ended with the signature by each member of the Imperial family
+of the document prepared by Cambacérès. The Emperor then conducted
+Joséphine to her apartment, where he left her after a tender embrace.
+
+But the night was not to end for Napoleon without one more painful
+scene. He had hardly retired when the door opened and Joséphine
+appeared. She threw herself into his arms, and Napoleon pressed her
+to his heart, saying: “Come, my good Joséphine, be more reasonable.
+Courage, courage, I shall always be thy friend.”
+
+The following day Joséphine was to leave the Tuileries forever.
+After a sleepless night she was occupied from early morning with her
+preparations for departure. Her children were with her, but Eugène was
+obliged to leave her at eleven o’clock for the meeting of the Senate,
+where the decree was to be passed, annulling the imperial marriage.
+It was the first appearance of the Viceroy in his quality of senator.
+After taking his oath of office, he spoke in support of the resolution
+offered by Comte Regnault, saying: “I think that it is my duty, under
+the present circumstances, to make plain the sentiments by which my
+family is animated. My mother, my sister, and myself, we owe everything
+to the Emperor. To us he has been a real father. At all times he will
+find in us, devoted children, and submissive subjects. It is important
+for the welfare of France that the founder of this fourth dynasty shall
+grow old surrounded by direct heirs who shall be our guarantee, as a
+pledge of the country’s glory. When my mother was crowned before the
+whole nation by the hands of her august spouse, she contracted the
+obligation to sacrifice all her affections to the interests of France.
+She has filled this first of her duties with courage, nobility and
+dignity.”
+
+Of the eighty-seven senators present, all but seven voted in favor of
+the decree, with four blank bulletins. Attention was called to the
+fact, often forgotten, that no less than thirteen of the predecessors
+of Napoleon upon the throne of France had been constrained to dissolve
+their marriage bonds, and among them four of the monarchs the most
+admired and loved by the people: Charlemagne, Philip-Augustus, Louis
+the Twelfth, and Henry the Fourth.
+
+The first act of the program, the annulment of the civil marriage, had
+been carried out, and no obstacle had been encountered. All of the
+actors had filled their rôles better than any one could have expected.
+There remained the religious marriage to dissolve, a very necessary
+step if the Emperor were to espouse a Catholic princess.
+
+While the chamber of the Senate was still echoing with the adulations
+of the address unanimously voted to her by the members, the Empress
+was leaving the Tuileries. It had been arranged that during the course
+of the day Joséphine should go to Malmaison, which in the future was
+to be her principal residence, while the Emperor was to depart for the
+Trianon. He was to leave first, at four o’clock in the afternoon. When
+his carriage was announced, he took his hat, called to his secretary,
+Méneval, to follow him, and rapidly descended the private staircase
+which led to the apartment of Joséphine in the _rez-de-chaussée_.
+On the entrance of the Emperor, Joséphine, who was awaiting him alone,
+threw herself into his arms, and Napoleon tenderly embraced her. Then
+she fainted, and Méneval rang for her attendants. As soon as Napoleon
+saw that she was recovering consciousness, to avoid a prolongation of
+the painful scene, he took his departure. Enjoining upon his secretary
+not to leave the Empress, he passed through the salons on the ground
+floor to the court, and entered his carriage which bore him away to
+Versailles.
+
+When Joséphine perceived that the Emperor had left, she seized the
+hands of M. de Méneval, and exclaimed: “Tell the Emperor not to forget
+me. Assure him of my undying affection. Promise me to send me news of
+him as soon as you arrive at the Trianon, and see that he writes me.”
+
+It was now the turn of Joséphine to leave. All the members of the
+palace household had gathered in the vestibule to salute the Empress as
+she departed. She was loved and regretted by all, and many eyes were
+filled with tears. To her they had always gone in their troubles, when
+there was a favor to ask, or a fault to be pardoned. There was not one
+who did not regard the good Empress as a guardian angel.
+
+For the last time, Joséphine enters her carriage at the door of the
+Tuileries, and leaves this abode of ten years, where she has spent so
+many happy days, and also endured so many hours of anguish.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Cambacérès, who had the matter in charge, found great and unexpected
+difficulties in procuring the annulment of the religious marriage,
+and a whole month passed before the decree was published. The ground
+taken was that the Emperor had been constrained, that his consent had
+been neither voluntary nor free, and that under the circumstances
+the marriage was null and void. The facts could not be disputed, but
+matrimonial cases of sovereigns were by usage reserved for the Pope:
+it was before the Supreme Pontiff that the cases of Louis the Twelfth
+and Henry the Fourth had been taken. Now the domains of the Church had
+been annexed to the Empire, and Napoleon had been excommunicated by
+the Pope, who was at present his prisoner. Other means must therefore
+be sought for the dissolution of the marriage. The various steps
+are related in detail by M. Masson, to whom the curious reader is
+referred. Suffice it here to state that on the 14 January 1810 the
+_Moniteur_ announced to France and to the entire world the rupture
+of the spiritual bond which united His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon and
+Her Majesty the Empress Joséphine.
+
+For several weeks the divorce was naturally the one topic of discussion
+in Paris. Joséphine was an object of universal sympathy, and on
+descending from the throne, as if she were already dead, she was
+accorded all the virtues.
+
+In the Army, the divorce was generally regretted. With the soldiers she
+had long been legendary, and many of the officers also attributed to
+her a beneficent effect upon the fortunes of Napoleon. When the hour of
+defeat sounded, during the terrible retreat from Moscow, more than one
+of the old _grognards_ were heard to exclaim: “The Little Corporal
+should never have given up _la vieille_ (_the old woman_);
+she brought good fortune to him and to us too.” It is doubtful if
+Joséphine would have been entirely pleased with this compliment if she
+had overheard it.
+
+Beugnot, in his _Mémoires_, also speaks of the general belief that
+Joséphine brought good luck to her husband. “I repeated it, and I even
+almost believed it,” he writes, “that Joséphine was the good fortune
+of the Emperor, and consequently of France, and that if she were ever
+separated from her husband, she would carry that fortune with her.”
+
+Joséphine, with her Creole tendency to superstition, probably believed
+it, and certainly tried to make Napoleon believe it. Later on, when
+overcome by reverses and betrayals, he was heard to say: “She was
+right: our separation has brought me misfortune.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
+
+ 1809–1810
+
+ JOSEPHINE AT MALMAISON
+
+ Dowry of the Empress--Napoleon’s Liberality--Her Debts
+ Paid--The First Days at Malmaison--Napoleon’s Visits and
+ Letters--Christmas Dinner at Trianon--Joséphine Tires of the
+ Country--Her Interest in the Austrian Marriage--Napoleon
+ Arranges for Her Return to Paris--Her Arrival at the Élysée
+ Palace.
+
+
+In fixing the dowry of Joséphine the Emperor had not been content with
+the amount of two million francs granted her under the Constitution of
+the Empire, from the State Treasury. By decree, he assured her from
+the Crown Treasury an additional allowance of one million francs; by a
+second decree he gave her for life the use of the Palais de l’Élysée;
+and by a third sovereign act, he renounced in her favor all his title
+and interest in Malmaison.
+
+By these acts the Emperor had more than redeemed his promise to
+assure her future. In Paris, Joséphine had for her residence the most
+sumptuous and the most attractive of the imperial palaces, and at the
+gates of the capital a château of her own choice, furnished to suit
+her own taste. So far from being a drain on her resources, the woods
+and lands of Malmaison in 1809 brought in a net revenue which exceeded
+by fifty per cent. the cost of its upkeep. Aside from her magnificent
+allowance of three millions, and her valuable collection of jewels,
+however, Joséphine had no private fortune.
+
+Napoleon knew by experience that the Empress must have some debts, and
+he now demanded a detailed statement of the amounts. She was forced to
+admit that these had accumulated since the last previous liquidation
+three years before, and now reached a total of nearly two millions.
+After a careful examination of the accounts, the amount was reduced
+by a round half million, and the balance was paid by the Emperor with
+the understanding that one-half the sum should be deducted from her
+allowance for each of the two following years. By this arrangement the
+income of the Empress was reduced to a little more than two millions
+for the first two years. Having paid her debts, and provided her
+with an ample allowance, Napoleon now arranged a careful budget for
+Joséphine’s expenses in the future, but his past experience with her
+should have taught him how useless it was to try to curb her mania for
+spending.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Joséphine arrived at Malmaison after the close of the short December
+day, under a cold, penetrating rain. She was accompanied by Eugène and
+Hortense, who did their best to cheer and console their mother in her
+new situation. The disposition shown by some members of her household
+to desert her was checked by the Emperor, who gave express orders that
+they were all to continue their services until the end of the year.
+
+The first day at Malmaison was sad and depressing. The rain continued
+to fall without ceasing. In the morning Joséphine was constantly in
+tears provoked by the sight of “the places where she had lived so
+long with the Emperor.” At an early hour Napoleon sent one of his
+officers from the Trianon in search of news. “He tells me,” Napoleon
+writes, “that since you are at Malmaison your courage has failed you.
+Nevertheless, the place is full of souvenirs of our affections which
+can never change, at least on my part. I am very anxious to see you,
+but I must be sure that you are strong and not weak. I am also a little
+weak myself, and that pains me much.”
+
+At the Trianon the Emperor was surrounded by Pauline and her friends,
+who did their best to amuse him and distract his thoughts. It was
+impossible to walk, or drive, or hunt in the rain. The only recourse
+was a game of cards, of which Napoleon soon tired. He ordered his
+carriage and drove rapidly to the Tuileries. On his way back in the
+afternoon he stopped to visit Joséphine at Malmaison. Between the
+showers they walked in the park together as of old, but he only shook
+her hand when he came and went, and did not kiss her. On his return to
+the Trianon he wrote her:
+
+ 8 P.M. (17) December 1809
+
+ Mon amie, I found you to-day weaker than you should have been.
+ You have shown courage, and you must find enough to sustain you.
+ You must not allow yourself to lapse into a fatal melancholy;
+ you must become content, and above all guard your health, which
+ is so precious to me. If you are attached to me and if you love
+ me you must bear yourself with strength and become happy. You
+ cannot doubt my constant and tender friendship, and you little
+ know all my regard for you if you imagine that I can be happy if
+ you are not, and contented if you are not tranquil. Adieu, mon
+ amie, sleep well, think that I wish it.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The second day at Malmaison passed in much the same way. The rain
+continued, with a high wind, and it was impossible for Joséphine to
+seek distraction by walking in the park. Eugène’s efforts to cheer her
+up with a forced gaiety were of no avail. After déjeuner there were
+many callers. With every new visitor who came to pay his respects, or
+express his regrets, there was a new flood of tears. But in her grief
+Joséphine displays her usual tact: “Not a word _de trop_, not a
+harsh complaint, falls from her lips; she is really as sweet as an
+angel.”
+
+At Paris, the reports of her attitude produced an excellent effect.
+Every one pitied her, and admired her courage and resignation.
+
+On the eighteenth the Emperor, in the rain, hunted in the forest of
+Saint-Germain, and sent no less than three times to demand news of
+Joséphine. The following day, before departing for the hunt, he sent
+Savary to see the Empress. Not content with writing, and receiving
+her letters, he wished to have the report of a person in whom he had
+entire confidence. On his return he found a letter from Joséphine, and
+immediately wrote her:
+
+ 7 P.M. (19 December 1809)
+
+ I have your letter, mon amie. Savary tells me that you are
+ constantly crying. That is not right. I hope that you have been
+ able to take a walk to-day. I have sent you some of my bag. I
+ will come to see you when you assure me that you are reasonable
+ and that your courage has got the upper hand. To-morrow I
+ have the ministers here all day. Adieu, mon amie. I, too, am
+ melancholy to-day. I want to hear that you are satisfied and to
+ learn of your self-possession. Sleep well.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+The following day the Emperor wanted to visit her, “but he is very
+busy, and a little indisposed.” The weather also is “damp and
+unhealthy.” But during the day the sun comes out, and at night he
+writes again: “As the day has been fine, I hope that you have been out
+to see your plants. I have only been out for a short time, at three
+o’clock this afternoon, to shoot some hares.”
+
+Joséphine had indeed been out for the first time. Madame de Rémusat,
+who had constituted herself Joséphine’s moral and physical director,
+had persuaded the Empress to take some exercise, thinking that a
+little fatigue might repose her mind. As Monsieur Masson well remarks:
+If Joséphine had been willing to travel for a time, to go to Milan
+or Rome, she might little by little have lessened the pain of her
+downfall; but so near to Paris and the Trianon, at every moment the
+same feelings are renewed: a note or some attention from the Emperor,
+a face familiar at the Tuileries, a page, a servant, a soldier,--all
+furnish an occasion for a new outbreak. The Emperor himself was largely
+responsible for this state of affairs. Through pity for Joséphine, also
+from weakness on his own part, he had not commanded her to go away, and
+in thus prolonging the agony of the separation he was suffering as much
+as the Empress from being “so near and yet so far.” Madame de Rémusat,
+taking advantage of the fact that her husband was on duty at Trianon,
+wrote him to “hint to the Emperor that he should write the Empress in
+such a manner as to encourage her; and not in the evening, for his
+letters give her nights of anguish; also, to moderate in his letters,
+his expressions of regret and grief.”
+
+The Emperor evidently took this advice in good part, for his future
+letters were more manly. On the 23 December he wrote: “I should have
+come to see you to-day, but for the arrival of the King of Bavaria. I
+hope to see you to-morrow and to find you gay and self-possessed.” He
+visited her as promised, but, although affectionate and tender in his
+manner, he did not kiss Joséphine, and was not alone with her a moment.
+
+The following day was Christmas, and he invited Joséphine and Hortense
+to visit him at Trianon. He kept them for dinner, and, according to
+Eugène, who was also present, “he was very good and very amiable to
+her,” and she seemed to feel much better.
+
+The next morning the Emperor wrote: “I retired last night as soon as
+you left. I want to know that you are gay. I will come to see you
+during the week. I have received your letters which I will read in my
+carriage.” In fact he was returning to the Tuileries, after an absence
+of ten days, and this was another trial for him and for Joséphine.
+The day after his arrival he writes: “I was much bored at seeing the
+Tuileries again; this large palace seemed empty to me, and I find
+myself very lonesome in it.” The same evening he writes again: “I much
+desire to go to Malmaison, but you must be strong and calm.” He adds:
+“_I am going to dine all alone_.”
+
+In other letters written during the last week in December the Emperor
+promises Joséphine to come to see her “to-morrow.” But one day he is
+retained by the Council until eight o’clock, at which hour he dines
+alone. The next day, Sunday, there is a grand review of the Old Guard
+in the court of the Tuileries, and he is unable to come “after Mass,”
+as he had proposed.
+
+Napoleon begins to find Malmaison too far away for frequent visits in
+mid-winter, and wearied of his lonely dinners he conceives the idea
+of having her nearer him in Paris. But there is no abode vacant. He
+had given her the Élysée for a town house, but after the departure of
+the King of Saxony, the Murats had at once taken possession, on the 17
+December. Their stay was supposed to be only temporary, but Caroline
+found the palace so comfortable, and was so delighted to keep Joséphine
+out, that she planned to prolong her occupancy as much as possible,
+and sent out invitations for a masked ball and other entertainments.
+However, the palace was formally promised Joséphine for the first week
+in January, and she took good care to have the promise renewed by the
+Emperor when he came, although ill, to wish her a Happy New Year.
+
+But Joséphine wished not only to move to the Élysée, but to assure her
+continued occupancy of the palace, and she now made a move which has
+often puzzled her biographers. On the first day of January 1810 she
+sent an invitation to Madame de Metternich, the wife of the former
+Austrian ambassador, to visit her at Malmaison. Much surprised at
+this summons, the lady came on the following day. In the salon she
+found Eugène, who seemed to expect her, and in a few minutes Hortense
+entered. Madame de Metternich was almost stupefied when Hortense
+greeted her with the words: “You know, Madame, that we are all
+Austrians at heart, but you would never imagine that my mother has
+had the courage to advise the Emperor to ask for the hand of your
+Archduchess.”
+
+Before Madame de Metternich had time to recover from her astonishment,
+Joséphine herself appeared. “I have a project,” she said, “which
+occupies me exclusively, the success of which alone gives me hope that
+the sacrifice I have just made will not be entirely lost. This is that
+the Emperor shall marry your Archduchess. I spoke of the matter to him
+yesterday, and he replied that his decision was not yet entirely made;
+but I am certain that it would be if he were sure of being accepted by
+you.”
+
+Madame de Metternich replied that, personally, she should regard such
+an alliance as a great piece of good fortune; but, with the thought of
+Marie-Antoinette in her mind, she could not refrain from adding that
+it might be painful for an Austrian archduchess to come to reside in
+France.
+
+Joséphine continued: “We must endeavor to arrange all this. You must
+make your Emperor see that his ruin and that of his country are certain
+if he does not consent, and that it is the only means of preventing the
+Emperor from creating a schism with the Holy See.” Joséphine concluded
+by saying that the Emperor was coming to breakfast with her, and that
+she would again speak to him on the subject.
+
+At that time Joséphine had no connections with the Russian Court,
+and no acquaintance with the Czar Alexander, who later was so
+devoted to her. She felt that, on that side, she had nothing to hope
+and everything to fear. But her feeling for Austria was entirely
+different. Since the time of her first visit to Italy in 1796 she had
+been on very friendly terms with the Archduke Ferdinand, the brother
+of the Emperor. After the Peace of Campo-Formio, she had received from
+the Emperor himself handsome presents, in recognition of the “friendly
+feelings which animated her.” She had always been on confidential terms
+also with Metternich. She felt sure, therefore, that her Austrian
+connections would never fail her. This is the explanation of what would
+seem otherwise a very strange move on her part.
+
+Metternich, who had recently been recalled to Vienna, to take the
+portfolio of Foreign Affairs, wrote his wife at Paris, in reply to
+her communication regarding Joséphine’s project: “This Princesse has
+recently given proofs of a force of character which must greatly
+increase the feeling of veneration with which not only France but all
+Europe has long regarded her.”
+
+In the meantime the Emperor does not fail in his attentions to his
+former wife. Every day that he cannot visit her, he sends her a letter.
+He is interested in all her acts; he is rejoiced if she takes a walk or
+is diverted in any way. The first week in January, after a long call,
+the previous day, he writes:
+
+ Sunday, 8 P.M. (7 January 1810)
+
+ It gave me very great pleasure to see you yesterday; I realize
+ what a charm your company has for me. I have worked to-day
+ with Estève. I have granted 100,000 francs for 1810 for the
+ extraordinary expenses of Malmaison. You can therefore plant as
+ much as you please; you will employ this sum as you wish. I
+ have charged Estève to remit 200,000 francs also as soon as the
+ contract for the Julien house is closed. I have ordered that
+ your set of rubies be settled for as soon as they are appraised
+ by the administration, as I do not wish any robbery by the
+ jewelers. All that costs me 400,000 francs.
+
+ I have ordered that the million due you from the civil list for
+ 1810 shall be held at the disposal of your man of affairs, to
+ pay your debts.
+
+ You should find in the _armoire_ at Malmaison 5 to 600,000
+ francs; you can take them to pay for your silver and linen.
+
+ I have commanded for you a very handsome set of porcelain; they
+ will take your orders, that it may be very fine.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+During the first month that Joséphine was at Malmaison the Emperor
+wrote her every day or two, and went to see her several times a week.
+After that, both his letters and his calls became more and more
+infrequent. He was gradually becoming accustomed to his lonely dinners,
+and his solitary nights. Joséphine, for her part, was daily getting
+more and more bored at Malmaison, and anxious to return to Paris. She
+had Napoleon’s promise, and she did not hesitate to remind him of it.
+On the 28 January he writes: “I have had your belongings here arranged,
+and given orders to take everything to the Élysée.” Two days later he
+says: “I shall be pleased to know that you are at the Élysée, and very
+happy to see you oftener, for you know how much I love you.”
+
+But Joséphine began to have her doubts. There were rumors of exile, of
+a prohibition of her residence in Paris. She took alarm and sent Eugène
+to see the Emperor. Napoleon defended himself in two letters, written
+probably on the 6 and 10 February:
+
+ Tuesday Noon (6 February) 1810
+
+ I learn that you are worried; that is all wrong. You are without
+ confidence in me, and are affected by all the reports which are
+ noised around; this shows your ignorance of me, Joséphine. I
+ am vexed with you, and if I do not learn that you are gay and
+ contented, I shall go and scold you well.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ Saturday 6 P.M. (10 February) 1810
+
+ I have told Eugène that you preferred to listen to the gossip of
+ a great city rather than what I said to you; that people should
+ not be permitted to annoy you with idle tales.
+
+ I have had your effects transported to the Élysée. You shall
+ come to Paris very soon; but be calm and contented, and have
+ entire confidence in me.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+Monsieur Masson, who places the date of this last letter a week
+earlier, says, “the same evening Joséphine was installed [at the
+Élysée], and the Emperor came immediately to see her.” But this seems
+to be an error. In the collection of Queen Hortense we find the
+following letter (No. 209):
+
+ _To the Empress, at Malmaison_
+
+ Sunday, 9 o’clock (? 11 February) 1810
+
+ Mon amie, I was very glad to see you day before yesterday.
+
+ I hope to go to Malmaison during the week.
+
+ I have had your affairs here arranged and ordered everything
+ taken to the Élysée-Napoléon.
+
+ I pray you to keep well.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+On Tuesday the 20 February, the Emperor, after hunting in the woods of
+Versailles, attended a fête given by Marshal Bessières at Grignon. From
+there he went to Rambouillet, and returned to Paris at six o’clock on
+the evening of Friday the 23 February. It was apparently just prior to
+this absence that Joséphine moved to Paris, as will appear from the two
+following letters:
+
+ _To the Empress, at the Élysée-Napoléon_
+
+ 19 February 1810
+
+ Mon amie, I have received your letter. I wish to see you,
+ but your reflections may be correct. There are perhaps some
+ objections to our finding ourselves under the same roof during
+ the first year. However, the country place of Bessières is too
+ distant to be able to return; besides, I have a slight cold, and
+ am not sure to go there.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+ Friday, 6 P.M (23 February) 1810
+
+ Savary has handed me your letter on my arrival; I notice with
+ regret that you are sad; I am glad that you saw no signs of the
+ fire.
+
+ I had fine weather at Rambouillet.
+
+ Hortense tells me that you had planned to come to dine with
+ Bessières, and return to Paris to sleep. I regret that you were
+ not able to carry out your project.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; be gay; think that this is the way to please me.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+In the collection of Queen Hortense the earlier letters of Napoleon to
+Joséphine, almost without exception, are fully dated; but those written
+after the divorce usually give only the day of the week. This makes the
+task of arrangement in many cases very difficult. In this instance,
+however, it is manifest that the letter dated “19 February,” which the
+editors place last, was written before the departure of the Emperor for
+Rambouillet, and the letter dated “Friday 6 P.M.” was written
+after his return. It is also evident that Joséphine did not move to
+Paris until after the middle of February.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY
+
+ 1810
+
+ THE CHATEAU OF NAVARRE
+
+ Napoleon’s Preference for a Russian Alliance--The Matter
+ Discussed in Conference--The Archduchess Marie-Louise
+ Favored--The Marriage Arranged--The New Empress Arrives at
+ Paris--Joséphine Goes to Malmaison--The Emperor Gives Her
+ Navarre--She Takes Possession of the Château--Its Dilapidated
+ Condition--Josephine’s Letter to Hortense--The Empress Worried
+ Over the Paris Gossip--Her Letter to Napoleon and His Reply--The
+ Emperor Agrees to All Her Plans--Joséphine Returns to Malmaison
+
+
+From the time that the divorce of Joséphine was first officially
+discussed, at the Erfurt conference in the autumn of 1808, Napoleon’s
+preference seems to have been for an alliance with the imperial family
+of Russia. The replies of the Czar to the overtures of Talleyrand at
+that time had been equally vague and discreet; but a week after his
+return home his elder sister Catharine had been affianced to the heir
+of the Duchy of Oldenburg.
+
+During the following year the time of the Emperor was taken up with the
+campaigns in Spain and Austria, and the matter remained in abeyance.
+But his thoughts still turned to Russia, and on the 22 November 1809,
+a week before the formal notification to Joséphine, he instructed
+Champagny, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to send a despatch to
+Caulaincourt, the French ambassador at St. Petersburg, directing him
+to ask the Czar to state frankly whether he would consider favorably an
+alliance between the Emperor and his younger sister, Anne.
+
+At that time it took two weeks for a courier to go from Paris to Saint
+Petersburg, and a month later no reply had yet been received from
+Russia. Another month passed, and Napoleon’s patience was exhausted.
+After Mass, on Sunday the 28 January 1810, the Emperor called a meeting
+of the principal dignitaries of the Empire, to discuss the respective
+advantages and disadvantages of a matrimonial alliance with Austria,
+Russia or Saxony. Prince Eugène, Talleyrand, Champagny, Berthier, and
+Maret declared for the Archduchess Marie-Louise; Murat and Cambacérès,
+for the Grand Duchess Anne; while only Lebrun favored the daughter of
+the King of Saxony. Napoleon took no part in the discussion, and gave
+no indication of his preference.
+
+Finally, on the 6 February, a despatch was received from Caulaincourt.
+He stated that he had not yet succeeded in obtaining a definite answer
+from the Czar, but added that Anne, who was only fifteen, was not
+yet of an age to marry, and furthermore that she was not willing to
+change her religion. Napoleon hesitated no longer. He immediately
+sent a messenger to inquire of the Austrian ambassador, Prince de
+Schwarzenberg, whether the marriage contract with the Archduchess
+Marie-Louise could be signed the next day!
+
+The contract, which was accordingly signed as proposed, was an almost
+exact copy of that of Marie-Antoinette, forty years before. The
+marriage by procuration was celebrated at Vienna on the 11 March, the
+Archduke Charles representing the Emperor Napoleon. On the 23 March
+Marie-Louise crossed the Rhine at Strasbourg, and four days later
+reached Compiègne where Napoleon had been awaiting her arrival for a
+week.
+
+The Court left Compiègne on the 30 March and arrived at Saint-Cloud
+the same evening. Here the civil marriage was celebrated on Sunday,
+the first of April. The religious ceremony was performed in Paris the
+following day by Cardinal Fesch, and took place in the Salon Carré of
+the Louvre, which had been transformed into a chapel for the occasion.
+
+In the meantime, Joséphine at the Élysée was finding her life in Paris
+as monotonous as it had been at Malmaison. The capital had never
+been so gay. Every night there were dinners, balls, suppers; but the
+Empress Joséphine was not present. The Emperor attended the opera,
+the theatres: he even gave, in the former apartments of the Empress
+at the Tuileries, a performance by the troupe of the Théâtre-Feydeau.
+There were balls given by Schwarzenberg, Talleyrand, Pauline, Berthier,
+Cambacérès; but in the midst of all these gaieties, Joséphine passed
+her evenings quietly at home.
+
+The Emperor had completely changed his habitudes, and seemed to be
+in training for his life with a young wife. In place of the former
+tragedies, he demanded comedies to amuse him. He hunted in the Bois de
+Boulogne, at Saint-Germain, and at Satory. From time to time he paid a
+brief visit to Joséphine, but his letters had almost entirely ceased.
+In the centre of Paris, Joséphine felt as though she were marooned on
+a desert island.
+
+After passing only a few weeks at the Élysée, on the 9 March Joséphine
+returned to Malmaison. It is not definitely known whether she tired of
+her isolation in the capital, or whether she received a delicate hint
+that her absence would be appreciated during the coming fêtes in honor
+of the arrival of the new Empress.
+
+The very day that the marriage contract with Marie-Louise was signed,
+the Emperor had taken up the matter of finding a suitable country
+residence for Joséphine: one not too far from Paris, but at the same
+time more distant than Malmaison, which was almost at the gates of
+the city. His choice finally fell on the old château of Navarre, near
+Evreux, about seventy miles west of Paris. It will be recalled that
+this property had been assigned to the Prince of the Asturias in
+May 1808, as a part of the bargain for the Crown of Spain, but the
+agreement had never been carried out, and the following January, by a
+decree of the Emperor, the land of Navarre had been added to the domain
+of the State.
+
+This château owed its name to Jeanne of France, Queen of Navarre, who
+about the middle of the fourteenth century had erected the building on
+the site of an old manor house. Three hundred years later the property
+was ceded by Louis the Fourteenth to the Duc de Bouillon in exchange
+for the sovereignty of Sedan, and remained in the possession of that
+family up to the time of the Revolution. By a curious coincidence, it
+was one of the cadet members of this same family who built at Paris
+the hôtel which later became the palace of the Élysée. During the
+Revolution the property was confiscated, and had later been joined to
+the Crown lands, although the title was far from clear. It was also
+very doubtful whether the Emperor had the power now to alienate the
+property from the Crown domain, and present it to a private person.
+But after certain formalities, more or less legal, had been complied
+with, the Emperor directed Maret to prepare letters patent erecting the
+land of Navarre into a duchy, and conveyed the title and the revenues
+to Joséphine for her life. In a letter to the Empress at Malmaison,
+Napoleon tells her of this gift:
+
+ (PARIS) 12 March 1810
+
+ Mon amie, I hope that you have been satisfied with what I have
+ done for Navarre. You will have seen in this act a new proof of
+ my desire to be agreeable to you.
+
+ Take possession of Navarre; you might go there the 25 March to
+ pass the month of April.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+This letter of the Emperor was in effect an order, which admitted of
+no evasion. The date of her departure and the length of her exile were
+both fixed. The 19 March, the day of Saint-Joseph, was her fête, but
+it was very quietly celebrated this year. The following day Eugène was
+to arrive with his wife, whom she had not seen since their marriage at
+Munich four years before. They came to spend a week at Malmaison, and
+thus Joséphine found an excuse to defer her departure for a few days
+longer. She had already stayed three days beyond the limit fixed by
+the Emperor; the new Empress was at Compiègne, and expected in Paris by
+the end of the week. It was time to start, and Joséphine went into her
+first exile.
+
+Late in the afternoon of Thursday the 29 March, Joséphine made her
+triumphal entry into Évreux. She was received by the mayor, the
+prefect, and the authorities, with a band of music, and a guard of
+honor; the church bells were rung, and there were salvos of artillery.
+Joséphine did not stop in the city, but proceeded directly to Navarre,
+where she arrived at nightfall.
+
+The first view of the château was very disappointing: it was a huge
+two-storied square block, surmounted by a dome upon which one of the
+original owners had intended to set up a statue of his uncle, the great
+Turenne. At the side of the château stood a smaller house. Both alike
+were dilapidated, draughty, and unfurnished, in spite of the fact
+that for two weeks past all of the laborers available at Évreux had
+worked “to make in haste the most necessary repairs.” The unfinished
+and uncrowned dome, which gave a ludicrous appearance to the building,
+was irreverently termed the _marmite_ by the Normands of the
+neighborhood.
+
+The rooms were vast and chilly; the windows would not close; the roof
+leaked, and the chimneys smoked. The château’s situation in a valley,
+while giving from the windows beautiful views of wooded hills in the
+summer, made it very damp for the rest of the year. On all sides there
+were large bodies of water, with cascades and fountains; and the park
+was planted with magnificent trees, but at the end of March “the
+leaves are rare, and between the water which flows, the water which
+stagnates, and the water which falls, with, for companions, these black
+skeletons, denuded and oozing, it would require, to be pleased, a
+backing of gaiety which Joséphine did not bring with her.”
+
+A few days after her arrival Joséphine wrote Hortense, who was at
+Compiègne with the Court:
+
+ NAVARRE, 3 April 1810
+
+ I arrived here in good health, my dear Hortense, although
+ somewhat tired from the journey. I was depressed by the
+ greeting I received. The inhabitants of Évreux have displayed
+ much enthusiasm over my arrival, but this appearance of a fête
+ somewhat resembled the compliments of condolence.... The Emperor
+ is happy; he deserves to be, and he will be more and more; this
+ thought is a great consolation for me, and the only one which
+ sustains my courage. Navarre will become a very fine residence,
+ but it demands many repairs and expenditures. Absolutely
+ everything needs to be done over. The château is not habitable.
+ The persons whom I have brought with me have each only a small
+ room, of which the door and the windows do not close. My lodging
+ is also very small and ill-arranged, and the woodwork is in bad
+ order. The park is magnificent; it is in a large valley between
+ two hills planted with the most beautiful trees; but there is
+ too much water, which makes the place damp and unhealthy; one
+ should live at Navarre during the months of May, June, July, and
+ the beginning of August. Then it is the most enchanting spot
+ to be found anywhere. At the present season Malmaison would be
+ preferable to me.... My life here is that of the country. I go
+ out for a walk or a drive when it does not rain; in the evening
+ I have a game of backgammon with the Bishop of Évreux, who is
+ very agreeable in spite of his seventy-five years. The time
+ passes slowly, but it will seem shorter to me when you are
+ here. I look for you impatiently. Your rooms are ready; they are
+ not handsome; you will only camp out; but you know with what
+ tenderness you will be received.
+
+ Adieu, my dear daughter, I embrace you.
+
+ If the Emperor asks you for news of me, tell him, what is true,
+ that my only occupation is thinking of him.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+In a letter to her husband at Compiègne, written early in April, Madame
+de Rémusat says:
+
+ There are many tales here (at Paris) regarding the Court and
+ the life you lead there. In general all these inventions are
+ unkind; they all tend to show the _hauteur_ of the manners
+ of the Empress and the brusqueness of her character. Then every
+ one recalls _the other_, and that will make her position
+ difficult. They say that she will only be Duchesse de Navarre;
+ that she will be relegated to the Duchy of Berg; that Malmaison
+ will be bought back from her; that our new sovereign has
+ displayed a great aversion to seeing her so near, and in support
+ of that assertion they cite words clearly invented, for it is
+ impossible that they should have been repeated. I await your
+ return to know the truth.
+
+As Madame de Rémusat was a great friend of Joséphine these rumors
+undoubtedly reached her at Navarre, and increased her anxiety to return
+to Malmaison. The Emperor had not written her since his marriage, and
+she looked upon his silence as a proof of his intention to abandon her
+entirely. She feared to write him direct, but through Eugène asked
+permission to return to Malmaison. The reply being favorable, Joséphine
+wrote the letter which follows:
+
+
+ NAVARRE, 10 April 1810
+
+ SIRE
+
+ I have received through my son the assurance that Your Majesty
+ consents to my return to Malmaison, and is willing to grant me
+ the advances which I have asked for to render the chateau of
+ Navarre habitable.
+
+ This double favor, Sire, goes far to drive away the great
+ anxiety, and even fear, inspired by Your Majesty’s long silence.
+ I was afraid of being banished entirely from your remembrance.
+ I see now that I am not. I am therefore less unhappy, and even
+ as happy as it is possible for me to be henceforward. I shall go
+ to Malmaison at the end of the month, since Your Majesty sees
+ no objection to this.... My plan is to stay there for a very
+ short time; I shall soon take my departure to go to the waters.
+ But during my stay at Malmaison Your Majesty may be sure that
+ I shall live there as if I were a thousand leagues away from
+ Paris. I have made a great sacrifice, Sire, and every day I more
+ appreciate its magnitude. This sacrifice, however, shall be all
+ it ought to be; it shall be complete on my part. Your Majesty
+ shall not be troubled in the midst of your happiness by any
+ expression of my regrets....
+
+ May I have always a little place in your remembrance, and a
+ large place in your esteem and friendship. This will soften my
+ grief, without compromising, it seems to me, that which is of
+ the highest importance, the happiness of Your Majesty.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+This letter does not seem to merit either the severe criticism of some
+of the biographers or the eulogy of others. Turquan declares it to be
+totally lacking in dignity, with its irritating reiteration of the
+sacrifices she had made, and its demand for money. On the other hand
+Saint-Amand considers it to be “an eloquent and simple expression of a
+true and noble sentiment, in which humility and dignity are perfectly
+combined”; and Masson says: “In truth this letter is a masterpiece,
+in which is to be found everything to excite the memory of Napoleon,
+arouse his former affection, and awaken his pity.”
+
+The best comment on this letter, however, is to be found in the reply
+of the Emperor:
+
+ COMPIÈGNE, 21 April 1810
+
+ Mon amie, I am in receipt your letter of the 19 April; it is in
+ bad form (_d’un mauvais style_). I am always the same; men
+ like myself never change. I cannot imagine what Eugène told you.
+ I have not written you because you have not written, and because
+ I wished in every way to be agreeable to you.
+
+ I am glad to know that you are going to Malmaison, and that you
+ will be contented. I shall be pleased to hear from you, and to
+ respond. I shall not say more until you have had a chance to
+ compare this letter with your own: after that I leave you to
+ decide which is the better friend, you or myself.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; take care of yourself, and be just, both to
+ yourself and to me.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+This letter is written with the old familiar _tutoiement_, so
+difficult to render into English, which is employed by Napoleon in all
+his letters to Joséphine. We think that the reader will agree that
+her letter showed bad form; was unwarranted in its assumptions, and
+that Napoleon, on this, as on many other occasions, proved himself the
+better friend.
+
+Joséphine’s reply merits quotation in full:
+
+ NAVARRE (no date)
+
+ A thousand, thousand loving thanks for not having forgotten me.
+ My son has just brought me your letter. With what eagerness I
+ read it, and yet I spent plenty of time in doing so, for there
+ was not a word of it which did not make me weep; but these tears
+ were very sweet! I have got back my heart entirely, and it will
+ always be as it is now. Certain feelings are life itself, and
+ can only finish with life.
+
+ I should be in despair if my letter of the nineteenth had
+ displeased you. I do not remember its exact wording; but I know
+ how painful was the feeling which dictated it--the sorrow of not
+ hearing from you.
+
+ I wrote you at the time of my departure from Malmaison; and
+ since then how many times have I not wished to write to you! But
+ I knew the reason for your silence, and I feared to importune
+ you by a letter. Yours has been a balm to me. Be happy, be as
+ happy as you deserve, it is my whole heart which speaks to you.
+ You have just given me my share of happiness, and a share which
+ I appreciate to the full. Nothing to me can be worth so much as
+ a proof of your remembrance.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie. I thank you as tenderly as I shall always love
+ you.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+This letter is very sweet and tender, but somehow it does not ring
+true. Masson says, if it is sincere it is _maladroite_; but if she
+is playing a rôle, knowing her partner as she does, is it not adroit in
+the highest degree?
+
+In answer to her letter, Napoleon wrote briefly from Compiègne on the
+28 April, encouraging her to go to the waters and assuring her once
+more of his unchanged feelings. He, too, had evidently heard of the
+rumors spoken of by Madame de Rémusat, for he said in his letter: “Do
+not listen to the babble of Paris; they are idle, and far from knowing
+the truth.” In fact there was not the slightest foundation for the
+reports.
+
+Napoleon showed himself most willing to fall in with Joséphine’s plans
+for the remainder of the year, and the following winter. She wished, to
+go first to Malmaison, then at the end of May to some watering-place
+for three months. After that she proposed to proceed to the South of
+France, Florence, Rome and Naples; to spend the winter with Eugène in
+Milan, and return in the spring to Malmaison and Navarre.
+
+The Emperor did not offer to meet the expenses of the repairs at
+Navarre, but agreed to advance the six hundred thousand francs left,
+after payment of her debts, out of her allowance from the Crown
+Treasury for 1810 and 1811; also that the one hundred thousand francs
+allowed her for extraordinary expenses at Malmaison should be diverted
+to Navarre.
+
+The middle of May, Joséphine returned to Malmaison, then in all its
+spring glory. For the first time she is able to enjoy her hyacinths and
+tulips imported from Holland, for, as she once complained, “Bonaparte
+always summons me to him just at the moment they are in flower.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
+
+ 1810
+
+ AIX-LES-BAINS AND GENEVA
+
+ Joséphine’s Court at Malmaison--Her Anxiety About Hortense--A
+ Call from the Emperor--Joséphine Goes to Aix-les-Bains--Her Life
+ There--A Visit from Eugène--The Emperor Announces the Abdication
+ of Louis--Joséphine’s Narrow Escape from Death--Arrival of
+ Hortense--Joséphine’s Tour of Switzerland--She is Upset by
+ the Reports Regarding Marie-Louise--Advice of Madame de
+ Rémusat--Joséphine’s Return
+
+
+The last week in April 1810, Napoleon left Compiègne with Marie-Louise
+for a visit of five weeks to Belgium. Madame de La Tour du Pin, the
+wife of the French prefect at Brussels at that time, has given us in
+her _Recollections_ a striking picture of the young Empress,
+whom she saw frequently while the Court was at Laeken. She says that
+Marie-Louise was insignificant, absolutely devoid of intelligence, and
+entirely unworthy of the great man whose destiny she shared; that she
+seemed to make it a point to be as disagreeable as possible to every
+one with whom she came in contact.
+
+The new Empress was no more popular at Paris, where Joséphine was more
+and more regretted. During the absence of the Emperor, Joséphine held
+a regular Court at Malmaison. “The crowd rushed there, all the more
+eager because Their Majesties were at Antwerp, and they had no fear
+of displeasing Marie-Louise.” The astute courtiers already perceived
+signs of a return to power of the old favorite. The Emperor had
+invited Eugène to accompany him, and during the journey had treated
+him with marked distinction. Joséphine had discreetly revealed to
+her confidential friends that she had received from the Emperor a
+letter full of affection, in which he gave her permission to remain
+at Malmaison, even after the return of the Court to Saint-Cloud, and
+promised to pay her an early visit. This letter, which bears no date,
+runs as follows:
+
+ _To the Empress Joséphine, at Malmaison_
+
+ Mon amie, I am in receipt your letter. Eugène will give you news
+ of my trip, and of the Empress. I highly approve of your going
+ to the waters, and hope they will do you good.
+
+ I much desire to see you. If you are at Malmaison at the end
+ of the month I will come to see you. I count upon being at
+ Saint-Cloud the thirtieth of the month.
+
+ My health is very good; I lack nothing but the knowledge that
+ you are contented and well. Let me know the name that you would
+ like to assume en route.
+
+ Never doubt the entire sincerity of my affection for you; it
+ will endure as long as I live; you would be very unjust not to
+ believe it.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+At this time Joséphine was very anxious about her daughter. After the
+stay of the Court at Compiègne, the Emperor had ordered Hortense to
+go to Amsterdam to rejoin her husband, with whom she had not lived
+since the birth of Louis-Napoleon two years before. Her health was
+still very bad, and she complied with the Emperor’s order with great
+reluctance. The letters of Joséphine during the month of May all
+manifest her great anxiety, and express her desire that Hortense should
+accompany her to the waters, either to Aix-la-Chapelle, her first idea,
+or to Aix-les-Bains, in Savoie, where she finally decided to go. The
+condition of Hortense finally became so alarming that, at the end of
+May, her husband consented to her going to Plombières.
+
+Napoleon’s promised visit to Malmaison finally took place on the 13
+June, twelve days after his return to Saint-Cloud. In a letter to her
+daughter, written the following day, Joséphine records her joy:
+
+ _To Queen Hortense, at Plombières_
+
+ MALMAISON, 14 June 1810
+
+ My dear Hortense, ... You ask me what I am doing. I had an hour
+ of happiness yesterday: the Emperor came to see me. His presence
+ made me happy, although it renewed my sorrows. Such emotions one
+ would willingly go through often. All the time that he stayed
+ with me I had sufficient courage to keep back the tears which I
+ felt were ready to flow; but after he was gone I could not keep
+ them back and I became very unhappy. He was kind and amiable
+ to me as usual, and I hope that he read in my heart all the
+ affection and all the devotion for him which fills me.
+
+ I spoke to him about your position and he listened to me with
+ interest. He thinks that you should not return again to Holland,
+ the King not having behaved as he ought to have done.... The
+ Emperor’s advice therefore is that you should take the waters
+ for the necessary time and that then you should write to your
+ husband that the advice of the physicians is that you should
+ live in a warm climate for some time, and in consequence you are
+ going to Italy, to your brother’s; as for your son, he will give
+ orders that he is not to leave France.... Your son, who is here
+ just now, is very well. He is pink and white.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+A few days later, on the 18 June, Joséphine set out for Aix-les-Bains,
+travelling under the name of the Comtesse d’Arberg, and accompanied
+only by four members of her household. She had chosen this place in
+preference to her old resort, Plombières, because “her health required
+distraction above all, and she hoped to find more of that in a place
+which she had not yet seen, and whose situation was picturesque,” also
+because “the waters are especially renowned for the nerves.”
+
+The Empress occupied a modest habitation with Madame d’Audenarde, and
+the rest of her attendants were lodged in a small adjoining house. A
+week after her arrival she was rejoined by Madame de Rémusat.
+
+At Aix, Joséphine led a very simple life. Bathing, excursions, reading
+the latest novels from Paris, dinner at eight o’clock, on account of
+the heat, a little music or a game afterwards--so passed her days.
+She had arrived before the opening of the season, but as soon as her
+presence was known visitors began to come from all of the neighboring
+towns in France, Switzerland and northern Italy.
+
+ [Illustration: FACSIMILE OF LETTER OF JOSÉPHINE]
+
+On the 10 July she had a short visit from her son, who was on his way
+to Milan. Eugène had recently been made by the Emperor hereditary
+Grand-Duke of Frankfort, which was generally assumed to be the end
+of any expectations that he might become King of Italy. It was rumored
+that Napoleon intended to unite Italy to the Empire, and that Eugène
+would cease to be his adopted son, when he had a son of his own.
+Joséphine feared that he would cease to be Viceroy at the same time
+that Hortense descended from the throne of Holland. This event had just
+been announced to her in a letter from the Emperor:
+
+ _To the Empress Joséphine, at Aix_
+
+ RAMBOUILLET, 8 July 1810
+
+ Mon amie, I have received your letter of the 3 July. You will
+ have seen Eugène, and his presence will have done you good. I
+ have learned with pleasure that the waters have benefited you.
+
+ The King of Holland has just abdicated the crown, leaving the
+ regency to the Queen, in accordance with the constitution. He
+ has departed from Amsterdam, and left the Grand-Duc de Berg.
+
+ I have united Holland to France; but this act is fortunate in
+ that it emancipates the Queen, and this unfortunate girl is
+ going to return to Paris with her son, the Grand-Duc de Berg:
+ that will make her entirely happy.
+
+ My health is good. I have come here to hunt for several days.
+ I shall see you with pleasure this autumn. Never doubt my
+ friendship. I never change.
+
+ Take good care of your health; be gay, and believe in the
+ sincerity of my affections.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+Although Joséphine, in her letters to Hortense, complains of her quiet
+surroundings, and speaks of her melancholy, her life at Aix seems to
+have been quite gay. The only incident which produced any excitement
+was a narrow escape which she had from death on a visit to the abbey of
+Hautecombe, when a sudden storm on the lake nearly caused her boat to
+founder. This is referred to in a letter from Napoleon at Trianon: “I
+have heard with anxiety the danger which you ran. For a child of the
+Isles of the Ocean to perish in a lake would be a catastrophe!”
+
+On her return to Aix from this excursion, which had so nearly proved
+fatal, Joséphine found a chamberlain of Queen Hortense, who announced
+her arrival on the following day. The meeting of the mother and
+daughter was very affecting. The similarity in their situations had
+produced a new bond of sympathy between them. At the time of her
+arrival, Hortense was ill both in body and soul, threatened with
+consumption, and absolutely worn out and discouraged. But in spite of
+all her troubles, she was her usual amiable self, and proved a great
+consolation to her mother. It was at this time that Hortense was
+brought into intimate contact with Charles de Flahaut, whose social
+accomplishments had made him a great favorite with Joséphine. Their
+intimacy resulted fifteen months later in the birth of the future Duc
+de Morny, so well known under the Second Empire.
+
+The visit of Hortense was very short, as she was ordered by the
+Emperor to return to Fontainebleau, and rejoin her two sons. She was
+therefore unable, as she wished, to accompany her mother on her tour of
+Switzerland during the months of September and October.
+
+Leaving Aix the first of September, Joséphine went to Sécheron, a small
+village in the suburbs of Geneva. She made this her headquarters during
+the two following months while she visited all the principal points of
+interest in Switzerland. As she was never fond of travelling, the only
+explanation of her course at this time is the report which had just
+reached her of the condition of Marie-Louise. We find the first mention
+of the subject in a letter to her daughter:
+
+ _To Queen Hortense, at Aix_
+
+ SÉCHERON, 9 September 1810
+
+ My dear Hortense ... I have not heard from the Emperor, but I
+ thought that I ought to prove to him the interest which I take
+ in the pregnancy of the Empress. I have just written him on the
+ subject. I hope that this step will put him at his ease, and
+ that he will be able to speak to me about it with a confidence
+ as great as my attachment for him....
+
+ Adieu, my dear daughter. I tenderly embrace you.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+As usual, Josephine’s letter to the Emperor is not extant, but his
+reply is given in Queen Hortense’s collection:
+
+ _To the Empress Joséphine, at Aix_
+
+ SAINT-CLOUD, 14 September 1810
+
+ Mon amie, I am in receipt your letter of the 9 September. I
+ am pleased to learn that you are well. The Empress is in fact
+ _grosse de quatre mois_; she is in good health and much
+ attached to me....
+
+ Adieu, mon amie; do not doubt my interest in you, and my
+ affection for you.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+This correspondence seems to furnish a sufficient explanation of
+Joséphine’s restlessness. She now showed a great desire to cancel the
+program which she herself had submitted to the Emperor in the spring,
+and to return at once to Malmaison. She evidently wrote Napoleon on the
+subject, for we have his reply:
+
+ _To the Empress Joséphine, at Geneva_
+
+ FONTAINEBLEAU, 1 October 1810
+
+ I have received your letter. Hortense, whom I have seen, will
+ have told you what I think. Go to see your son this winter; come
+ back to the waters of Aix next year, or else stay at Navarre for
+ the spring. I would advise you to go to Navarre at once if I did
+ not fear that you would grow weary there. My opinion is that you
+ could only spend the winter conveniently at Milan or Navarre,
+ but I do not wish in any way to put you out.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie.... Be contented, and do not lose your head.
+ Never doubt my affections.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+Joséphine returns to the same subject in two letters to her daughter,
+from Berne, the following month:
+
+ _To Queen Hortense, at Fontainebleau_
+
+ BERNE, 12 October 1810
+
+ My dear Hortense,... Not a word from you in the twenty days
+ since our separation. What does your silence mean?... If in
+ three days from now I do not receive letters telling me what to
+ do, I shall think that the Emperor has not approved the request
+ which I made of him. I shall leave for Geneva; ... from Geneva I
+ shall return to Malmaison; then at least I shall be in France,
+ and if all the world deserts me I shall dwell there alone,
+ conscious of having sacrificed my happiness to make that of
+ others....
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+
+ BERNE, 13 October 1810
+
+ My dear Hortense, I am to-day in receipt your letter of the
+ fourth.... After having reflected well, I shall follow the
+ Emperor’s first idea and shall establish myself at Navarre.
+ It seems to me very unsuitable to go to Italy, especially in
+ the winter. If it were for a visit of one or two months, I
+ should gladly go to see my son; but to stop there longer is
+ impossible....
+
+ All that you tell me of the interest which the Emperor still
+ has in me, gives me pleasure. I have made for him the greatest
+ of sacrifices: _the affections of my heart_; I am sure
+ that he will not forget me, if he says to himself sometimes
+ that another person would never have had the courage to make
+ such a sacrifice.... I would like to receive another line from
+ you before arranging my departure for Navarre, in order to be
+ sure that the Emperor approves of my passing the winter in that
+ place. Speak to me frankly on that point.
+
+ I confess to you that if I were obliged to remove from France
+ for more than a month I should die of grief. At Navarre at least
+ I shall have the pleasure of seeing you sometimes....
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+This revelation of the deep affection of Joséphine for Napoleon, in
+the confidence of an intimate personal letter to her daughter, seems a
+sufficient answer to those writers who have frequently expressed doubts
+of her sincerity.
+
+Upon her return to Geneva, the 21 October, Joséphine found a note from
+the Emperor, and at once wrote Hortense to announce her final plans:
+
+ _To Queen Hortense, at Fontainebleau_
+
+ GENEVA, (no date) 1810
+
+ The Emperor has written me a very amiable little letter. You
+ can judge, my dear Hortense, what pleasure it has given me. The
+ Emperor advises me to go to Milan or Navarre. I have decided for
+ Navarre....
+
+ You will find me much changed, my dear daughter. The past month
+ I have grown quite thin, and I feel that I need rest, and above
+ all that the Emperor does not forget me....
+
+ Adieu, my dear Hortense, I have just written the Emperor;
+ I advise him that I count upon leaving Geneva the first of
+ November, that I shall go to Malmaison for twenty-four hours:
+ you will be very kind if you come there to make me a little
+ visit. After that I shall go to stay at Navarre; let me know if
+ this arrangement suits the Emperor....
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+While she was still at Berne, or soon after her return to Geneva,
+Joséphine received a very long letter from Madame de Rémusat, in which,
+with many flattering phrases, she mingles the advice not to return to
+Paris. The letter bears no date, but was probably written early in
+October 1810. The note of Paul de Rémusat, in which he assigns the date
+to the last of 1812, or the beginning of 1813, is absurd. This letter
+is quoted at length in the collection of Queen Hortense, and in many of
+the biographies, but it hardly deserves so much space.
+
+Apparently Joséphine had wished to meet Marie-Louise, but Madame de
+Rémusat assures her that the time has not yet come for such a step.
+Then follow long details to show the jealousy of Marie-Louise.
+
+Among those whom the writer had seen was Duroc, the grand marshal of
+the palace; from him she gathered that Joséphine had still further
+sacrifices to make. “May you not find in the course of a rather more
+prolonged journey pleasures which you do not foresee at first? At
+Milan there awaits you the sweet spectacle of a son’s merited success.
+Florence and Rome too would gratify your tastes.... You would encounter
+at every step in Italy memories which the Emperor would see recalled
+with no vexation, for to him they are connected with the epoch of his
+earliest glories.” There is much more in the same strain, and it is
+evidently Napoleon who is speaking through the mouth of Duroc. The
+Emperor, however, was too tenderly disposed towards Joséphine to give
+her a positive order not to return to France, and she was not a woman
+to take a hint.
+
+Before leaving Geneva, Joséphine purchased the château of Prégny, on
+the edge of the lake, facing Mont-Blanc, for which she paid nearly
+two hundred thousand francs. After this final extravagance, she set
+out on the first day of November for her stay of “twenty-four hours”
+at Malmaison. Napoleon was still at Fontainebleau with Marie-Louise,
+but his own return to the Tuileries was fixed for the 15 November.
+As Joséphine was still at Malmaison at that date, the Emperor sent
+Cambacérès to hasten her departure. She protested that she could not
+leave without time to pack up, and it was not until the 22 November
+that she actually reached Navarre.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
+
+ 1811–1812
+
+ NAVARRE, MALMAISON AND MILAN
+
+ The Monotonous Life at Navarre--Joséphine’s Health
+ Improved--Visits from Hortense and Eugène--Joséphine’s
+ Fête-Day--News of the Birth of the King of Rome--Napoleon
+ Again Pays Her Debts--She Plans for a New Château at
+ Malmaison--Napoleon Exchanges Laeken for the Élysée--A Winter at
+ Malmaison--Visit to Milan--Sojourns at Aix-les-Bains and Prégny
+
+
+During the absence of Joséphine the interior of the château of
+Navarre had been restored as completely as possible, and refurnished
+in a simple manner, so that now it was quite habitable. It was still
+difficult to heat the immense oval salon, which occupied the centre of
+the building: it was paved with marble, and lighted only by windows
+in the vestibule, and openings pierced in the lofty dome above. But
+the architect had succeeded in arranging around this room a salon,
+a music-room and a card-room. A number of comfortable, if not very
+luxurious chambers had also been partitioned off, for the members of
+the household. By burning an immense quantity of wood and coal in the
+fireplaces, it was now possible to make the rooms fairly comfortable.
+Large sums had also been spent on the gardens and hothouses, and
+Navarre promised in time to become a second Malmaison.
+
+The household was much more numerous than before: Joséphine had brought
+with her quite a number of young girls, as pretty as they were poor,
+who were supposed to possess some talents as musicians. The life at
+the château was nevertheless very monotonous. Joséphine remained in
+her room until eleven o’clock, at which hour the déjeuner was served
+punctually. After this meal, which lasted three-quarters of an hour,
+the young people had music in the salon, while the older persons played
+cards or chess. In the afternoon there were promenades through the
+gardens and park, or drives in the forest of Évreux. If the weather was
+unfavorable, the time was passed in reading the latest novels, of which
+a box was received every week from Paris. At four o’clock every one was
+free, and Joséphine went to her room, where she usually summoned one of
+her old intimates for a confidential chat.
+
+At six o’clock dinner was served, and there were always some invited
+guests from the city: the prefect, the mayor, and, most frequently, the
+bishop, Mgr. Bourlier. There was only one table, and the service was
+very luxurious. After dinner, there was music, cards, and sometimes
+dancing. Joséphine was fond of games, and played cards, backgammon, and
+billiards equally well. The evening usually ended at eleven o’clock,
+when every one retired.
+
+Joséphine, whose health had always been good, had never been so well;
+she no longer suffered from the frequent headaches, which were due
+mainly to the irregular hours of the Emperor. She began to grow stout
+and for the first time in her life was obliged to wear a corset, in
+place of the former _brassières_. Her only trouble was with her
+eyes, which her physician told her was due to her crying so much,
+“nevertheless,” she wrote her daughter, “for some time past I only
+weep occasionally.”
+
+The first of the year Hortense finally arrived for her long-promised
+visit, but while Joséphine received her with transports of joy, it
+was not the same with the other members of the household. The Queen,
+with all her affectation of simplicity, was very rigorous on the point
+of etiquette, and insisted that her chamberlains should appear every
+evening in full uniform, and her ladies in décolleté gowns. Under
+the mild régime of Joséphine every one had become somewhat careless,
+and Court ceremonial had been more honored in the breach than the
+observance. Therefore Hortense was generally regarded as a killjoy.
+
+It was quite different when Eugène came. He had always preserved his
+simple, boyish manners, and was only too glad to escape from the
+tiresome etiquette he was obliged to maintain at Milan. He entered
+heartily into the games and pastimes of the young people, and was
+a universal favorite. His trunks were full of presents, which he
+distributed with a lavish hand, and this was the only way in which he
+recalled the fact that he was a prince.
+
+The day of Saint-Joseph fell in March, and on the eighteenth “all the
+personages of the city came in carriages to Navarre to salute the
+Empress and wish her a happy fête-day.” In the evening there was a
+celebration at the château, and Joséphine distributed presents. The
+following evening the Empress gave a ball in the grand salon, where a
+parquet floor had been laid for dancing, over the marble tiles.
+
+On the 20 March, to continue the festivities, the mayor gave a dinner
+in honor of the Empress. She sent all the members of her household, but
+remained at home herself, as she was expecting news from Paris. In this
+way she missed the first notification of the great event. At the moment
+that the guests came out from dinner, at eight o’clock, a despatch
+was received from Paris announcing the birth of the King of Rome.
+Enthusiastic toasts were drunk, the bells were rung, and the cannon
+fired.
+
+Joséphine, who was anxiously waiting at Navarre, heard the sound of the
+guns and the bells before the postmaster could reach her presence. He
+had been advised by the courier on his way to Cherbourg, had hastily
+donned his uniform, and rushed to the château. When he communicated the
+news to Joséphine he noticed at first a slight frown upon her face;
+then, recovering her usual gracious manner, she said: “The Emperor
+cannot doubt the lively interest that I take in an event which crowns
+his joy. He knows that I cannot separate myself from his destiny, and
+that his happiness will always make me happy.”
+
+The following morning Eugène arrived at Navarre. The Emperor had had
+the delicate thought of sending him to tell Joséphine all the details
+of the happy event. She immediately sent her felicitations, and on the
+22 March received from the Emperor the following letter, sent by one of
+his pages:
+
+ _To the Empress Joséphine, at Navarre_
+
+ PARIS, 22 March 1811
+
+ Mon amie, I have received your letter. I thank you. My son is
+ big and healthy. I hope that he will do well. He has my chest,
+ my mouth, and my eyes. I hope that he will fulfill his destiny.
+
+ I am always well satisfied with Eugène. He has never caused me
+ the slightest sorrow.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+By this tacit comparison of his son and Eugène the Emperor gave
+Joséphine the greatest consolation in his power; by this association
+of the two names, he practically assured her of the continuance of his
+protection and good-will.
+
+In fact, although his letters had not been so frequent of late,
+Napoleon, when he wrote, had been as tender and as cordial as ever,
+even with a touch of humor. Thus, he had written her in reply to her
+New Year’s greetings: “They say that there are more women than men at
+Navarre.” In a later letter he said: “I am well; I hope to have a son:
+I will let you know at once.... When you see me, you will find that my
+regard for you has not changed.”
+
+The Emperor was soon to give her a new proof of his kindness, in
+sending her permission to spend the springtime at Malmaison, which
+he knew would give her the greatest possible pleasure. The middle of
+April, therefore, we find her with Eugène at Malmaison, where she
+stayed during the whole month of May. This visit is passed over in
+silence by nearly all the biographers of Joséphine, who state that she
+remained at Navarre until the middle of September.
+
+About this time Joséphine found herself once more in serious financial
+difficulties. In spite of the two millions she had received in 1811,
+she had debts to the amount of a million more, and no funds to
+complete her purchase of Prégny, to pay for the repairs at Navarre,
+and meet her current bills. She was compelled to apply to the Emperor,
+who wrote her the following letter:
+
+ _To the Empress Joséphine_
+
+ TRIANON, 25 August 1811
+
+ I have received your letter. I see with pleasure that you are in
+ good health. I am at Trianon for several days. I expect to go to
+ Compiègne. My health is very good.
+
+ Put your affairs in order; do not spend more than a million
+ and a half, and put as much aside every year. That will
+ make a reserve of fifteen millions in ten years, for your
+ grandchildren: it is nice to be able to give them something and
+ to be useful to them. Instead of that I am told that you have
+ debts: that would be very bad. Look after your affairs, and
+ do not give to everybody who asks it. If you desire to please
+ me, let me know that you have a large fund. Judge what a poor
+ opinion I shall have of you if I know that you are in debt with
+ an income of three millions.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie, take care of your health.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+This letter, No. 227 in the Didot Collection, bears the date of 25
+August 1813, but this is plainly an error. That year Napoleon left
+Paris the middle of April for the campaign in Saxony, and did not
+return until the 9 November. On the other hand, he was at the Trianon
+on the 25 August 1811, and that is undoubtedly the correct date.
+
+After a careful inquiry into Joséphine’s affairs, the report made to
+the Emperor showed that her situation was even worse than he expected,
+and on the 4 November he sent word to her intendant that he had
+allowed an additional sum of a million francs for her dowry that year.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Two years later, on his return from the disastrous campaign of 1813,
+the Emperor sent at once for Mollien, the Minister of the Treasury,
+and, in place of many subjects far more important, he took up “the
+finances of the Empress Joséphine,” the economies which she could and
+should make. “She can no longer count upon me to pay her debts,” he
+said; “I no longer have the right to add anything to what I have done
+for her. The fate of her family must not rest only upon my head.” Then
+he added in a low tone, as if speaking to himself: _Je suis mortel et
+plus qu’un autre_.
+
+When Mollien told him that Joséphine had shed tears in the course of
+an interview he had with her, Napoleon exclaimed: “But she must not be
+allowed to weep!”
+
+Immediately after this conference with Mollien, Napoleon wrote
+Joséphine:
+
+ _To the Empress Joséphine, at Malmaison_
+
+ FRIDAY, 8 A.M. (November) 1813
+
+ I am sending to learn how you are, for Hortense has told me
+ that you were in bed yesterday. I have been annoyed with you on
+ account of your debts; I do not wish you to have any; on the
+ contrary, I hope that you will put a million aside each year, to
+ give to your granddaughters when they are married.
+
+ However, never doubt my friendship for you, and do not worry
+ over this matter.
+
+ Adieu, mon amie, send me word that you are well. They tell me
+ that you are getting as fat as a good farmer’s wife of Normandie.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+As Masson says, after recounting this incident: _N’est-il pas
+toujours le même--et elle, toujours pareille!_
+
+ * * * * *
+
+One would think that this new financial crisis, coming after so
+many others, might have made Joséphine, at least for a time, more
+reasonable, but such was not the case. While she was at Malmaison she
+sent for her old architect, Fontaine, to consult him about her plans
+for Navarre. She wanted to remove the dome, and change the château into
+an Italian villa, with a flat roof, and a crown of balustrades.
+
+A month later, she again sends for the architect. This time she has
+another plan: to construct at Malmaison a new château, with all
+the modern improvements. As this will be very costly, in order to
+provide the funds, “she begs Fontaine to propose to the Emperor, if
+he finds an opportunity, an exchange of the palace of the Élysée
+against its value in money.” This project did not displease Napoleon,
+who had often regretted his gift of the Élysée to Joséphine. There
+was no privacy at the Tuileries, and he had deprived himself of the
+only residence in Paris where he and his family could take a little
+exercise. Joséphine could not reside in the city, and for both of
+them it seemed an excellent arrangement. Napoleon was therefore
+inclined to welcome the proposal, but he did not care to add another
+million or two to the large sums he had already given the Empress.
+He accordingly made a counter-proposition: an exchange of the Élysée
+for the château of Laeken, a modern palace, richly furnished, and in
+perfect order, surrounded by a large park, and near an important city.
+He had purchased this property when First Consul, in April 1804, for
+about a million francs, and had subsequently spent another million in
+alterations and additions. The château was considered to be one of
+the finest of the imperial residences, and was always kept in perfect
+order, ready for immediate occupancy. By a decree under date of 10
+February 1812 the Emperor authorized the exchange, but Joséphine never
+visited her new residence, even to take possession.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+In September 1811 Joséphine returned to Malmaison for the winter. The
+Navarre party, as it was called, was now in a flourishing condition,
+and the Court of the Empress Joséphine fairly rivalled that of the
+Empress Marie-Louise.
+
+In the spring of 1812 she had the pleasure of a short visit from
+Eugène, who had been summoned from Milan to receive the orders of the
+Emperor regarding the coming war with Russia. Augusta was expecting
+another baby the last of July, and Eugène persuaded his mother to make
+her long-deferred visit to Milan, to be present on that occasion.
+
+In May she passed several days at Saint-Leu with Hortense and her
+children. But she did not venture to start for Italy without the
+permission of the Emperor. From Dantzig on the 8 June he wrote: “I
+hope that the waters will do you good, and I shall be glad to see you
+on my return”; but not a word about Italy. Finally, from Gubin on the
+20 June he wrote: “I do not see anything in the way of your going to
+Milan, to be with the Vicereine. You had better go there incognito. You
+will find it very hot.”
+
+This letter did not reach the Empress until the first of July, and then
+again her departure was deferred for two weeks by news of the illness
+of one of her grandchildren at Aix-la-Chapelle. As this did not prove
+serious, Joséphine finally set out on the 16 July, and reached Milan
+twelve days later. Her letter to Hortense is worth quoting:
+
+ _To Queen Hortense, at Aix-la-Chapelle_
+
+ MILAN, 28 July 1812
+
+ I was very tired on my arrival here, my dear Hortense....
+ The pleasure of seeing Augusta has revived me. Her health is
+ very good and her pregnancy is far advanced. I am with her at
+ the Villa Bonaparte; I have Eugène’s rooms. You can imagine
+ all the pleasure it gave me to make the acquaintance of his
+ little family. Your nephew is very strong, an infant Hercules.
+ His sisters are extremely pretty. The elder is a beauty; she
+ resembles her mother in the height of her forehead. The younger
+ has a lively and clever face; she will be very pretty.
+
+ I have received here three letters from Eugène, the last under
+ date of the 13 (July); his health is very good; he is still in
+ pursuit of the Russians, without overtaking them. It is the
+ general hope that the campaign will not be long. May this hope
+ be realized!...
+
+ You do not speak of your health; I hope that the waters have
+ done you good: it is the first prayer of a mother who loves you
+ better than herself.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+Only three days after Joséphine’s arrival there was a fourth
+grandchild, the future Empress Amélie of Brazil. “Augusta,” writes
+Joséphine the same day, “is perfectly well, and her daughter is superb,
+full of strength and health.”
+
+Before she had been at Milan a week, Joséphine was already uneasy, and
+anxious to leave for Aix-les-Bains. But she prolonged her stay for a
+month because Madame Mère and her brother, Cardinal Fesch, were at the
+waters, and she did not wish to meet them. At Aix she found Julie,
+“good and amiable as usual,” with her sister, the former Désirée Clary,
+who was now the wife of Bernadotte, the Prince-Royal of Sweden. After
+their departure, at the end of September, she went to her château of
+Prégny for a short stay. A few days after her arrival she writes to
+Hortense: “I regret that you are not here with me. The weather is very
+fine. The views of the lake and of Mont-Blanc are magnificent. It only
+lacks you at Prégny to appreciate with delight the full charm of a
+quiet life.”
+
+On the 21 October her “quiet life” at Prégny came to an end, and
+Joséphine set out for Malmaison, leaving the good people of Geneva
+quite content with her departure, as “the kind of life which we have
+led since she is here does not agree with our habitudes.”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
+
+ 1813–1814
+
+ THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE
+
+ The Malet Conspiracy--What it Revealed--Joséphine’s
+ Anxiety--Return of the Emperor--Joséphine and the King of
+ Rome--Eugène Commands the Grand Army--Napoleon’s Errors in
+ 1813--Hortense at Aix--Her Sons at Malmaison--Recollections
+ of Napoleon the Third--A Doting Grandmother--Death of Mme. de
+ Broc--Louis Returns to France--Eugène’s Fidelity--Napoleon’s
+ Suspicions--He Asks Joséphine to Write Her Son--Her Despair--She
+ Leaves for Navarre
+
+
+Joséphine reached Malmaison on her return from Switzerland the 25
+October, the day after the Malet affair. She wrote Eugène that the
+consternation had been general, but had not lasted long: at the end of
+several hours, everything was as calm as before. The whole plot turned
+upon the false report of the death of the Emperor. Armed with forged
+papers, and supported only by two battalions of the Paris garrison,
+this madman succeeded in gaining possession of the Post Office and
+the Treasury, and imprisoning Savary, the minister, and Pasquier, the
+prefect of police. He was finally arrested, condemned by a military
+court, and executed.
+
+The Malet plot for the first time clearly revealed to the public the
+instability of the Empire, which was founded only on the glory and the
+genius of Napoleon. In this moment of crisis, when the conspirators
+shouted, “The Emperor is dead!” not a voice was raised to cry:
+“L’Empereur est mort! Vive l’Empereur!”
+
+When the news reached Napoleon he said: “While the Empress was there,
+the King of Rome, my ministers, and all the great bodies of the State!
+Is then a man everything here? the institutions, the oaths, nothing!”
+Yes, a man was everything, and nothing else counted.
+
+Joséphine has often been accused, at this crisis in the career of the
+Emperor, of being interested only in her own selfish affairs, but her
+letters tell another story. She writes from Malmaison to her daughter:
+“You give me new life, my dear Hortense, in assuring me that you have
+read the letters of the Emperor to the Empress; she is very amiable to
+have shown them to you.... I must admit to you that I was very Uneasy.”
+
+We have also the testimony of her attendant, Mlle. Avrillon: “No words
+can describe the effect produced by the bulletins which announced
+the terrible disasters of Moscow. The profound anxiety which we saw
+depicted upon the face of the Empress Joséphine contributed above all
+to make us sad.... Seeing her at these sad moments, it seemed as if she
+reproached Fate, as if she accused Heaven of having separated them, of
+having withdrawn from Napoleon the safeguard of her presence.”
+
+The Parisians had hardly finished reading the terrible Twenty-ninth
+Bulletin, when it became known that the Emperor was at the Tuileries.
+In the midst of the cares and the work which overwhelmed him, he sent
+Joséphine, through Hortense, his tender remembrances. As soon as he
+could find an opportunity he visited Malmaison. Although there is much
+doubt as to the exact date, it seems to have been at this time, during
+the last week in December, that Joséphine persuaded him to let her see
+the little King of Rome. The meeting took place at the château known
+as Bagatelle in the Bois de Boulogne. The child usually took a drive
+every afternoon in the Bois with his governess, and on this occasion
+the Emperor accompanied them on horseback. Joséphine drove over from
+Malmaison and met them. This was the only time Joséphine ever saw the
+boy, and it is the general opinion that this was also her last meeting
+with Napoleon.
+
+On New Year’s day, Joséphine, always a prey to superstition, noticed
+the date with alarm. “Have you remarked,” she said, “that the year
+begins on a _Friday_, and that it is Eighteen-_thirteen_! It
+is a sign of great misfortunes.”
+
+On leaving the remnants of the Grand Army, to return to Paris, the
+Emperor had placed Murat in command. In a letter to the Emperor from
+Posen under date of the 17 January, Eugène stated that the King of
+Naples had left that morning, in spite of all the efforts made by
+himself and Berthier to keep him, and that he himself had provisionally
+assumed the command, while awaiting the orders of the Emperor.
+Joséphine was much pleased by the terms in which the _Moniteur_
+officially announced the change: “The King of Naples, being indisposed,
+has been obliged to give up the command of the army, which he has
+placed in the hands of the Viceroy. The latter has more experience in
+administering large affairs, and he has the entire confidence of the
+Emperor.”
+
+At the same time, the Emperor sent Eugène the following letter:
+
+ _To the Viceroy Eugène_
+
+ _Paris_, 22 January 1813
+
+ My son, take the command of the Grand Army. I regret that I
+ did not leave it to you at the time of my departure. I flatter
+ myself that you would have returned more slowly, and that
+ I should not have sustained such immense losses. The past
+ misfortunes are beyond remedy.
+
+ NAPOLEON
+
+Notwithstanding the terrible Russian disaster, Napoleon at the
+beginning of 1813 was still in a position to save his empire. He
+had 250,000 veteran troops in Spain, and 150,000 more in the German
+fortresses. If he had abandoned the hopeless effort to keep Joseph on
+his throne, sent Ferdinand back to Spain, and concentrated all of his
+forces behind the Elbe, he could have met the Russians and Prussians
+with a seasoned army of 400,000 men, with a reserve force nearly
+as large in training in the dépôts of France; he could easily have
+defeated the Allies, and Austria would never have entered the coalition.
+
+ [Illustration: EUGÈNE DE BEAUHARNAIS]
+
+The Emperor left Paris for the front on the 15 April. In May he
+gained two brilliant victories, at Lutzen and Bautzen, but they were
+indecisive because he did not have the cavalry to follow them up. The
+first week in June he consented to an armistice, which was finally
+extended until the 10 August, when Austria joined the Allies. Two
+weeks later he won at Dresden his last great victory, but this too
+proved indecisive; in October he was beaten at Leipzig, and forced to
+withdraw behind the Rhine. This was the poorest campaign ever conducted
+by Napoleon, “the weakest in conception, the most fertile in blunders,
+and the most disastrous in its results.”
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Joséphine passed the winter of 1813 very quietly at Malmaison. While
+the Emperor was in Paris, there were but few callers, but after his
+departure in April, they began once more to flock to Malmaison. The
+fine weather also made her life more cheerful. In May she spent several
+days with her daughter at Saint-Leu, and when Hortense left for
+Aix-les-Bains in June, she confided her children to her mother for the
+period of her absence. This was a great joy for Joséphine, who was a
+doting grandmother, whatever may have been her shortcomings as a mother.
+
+This sojourn with their grandmother at Malmaison made such a profound
+impression upon the children, that Louis, the future Napoleon the
+Third, who was then only five years old, retraced his recollections
+of the visit sixty years later, in some memoirs which have remained
+unpublished. He writes:
+
+“I can still see the Empress Joséphine in her salon, on the
+ground-floor, smothering me with her caresses, and already flattering
+my _amour-propre_ by the attention she paid to my sayings. For my
+grandmother spoiled me in the fullest sense of the word, while on the
+contrary my mother, from my earliest infancy, endeavored to repress my
+faults, and develop my good qualities.
+
+“I remember that, arrived at Malmaison, my brother and I were allowed
+to do as we pleased. The Empress, who was passionately fond of her
+plants and her hothouses, permitted us to cut and suck the sugarcane,
+and she always told us to ask for anything we wanted. When she said
+this one day, on the eve of a fête, my brother, who was three years
+older than myself, and consequently more sentimental, asked for a
+watch with the picture of our mother. But when the Empress said to me:
+‘Louis, ask for what will give you the greatest pleasure,’ I asked her
+to let me walk in the mud with the little ragamuffins. Let no one think
+that this request was ridiculous, for all the time that I remained in
+France, up to the age of seven years, it was one of my greatest griefs
+to be obliged to drive into the city with four or six horses.”
+
+Joséphine, who feared to be scolded by Hortense, for the way in which
+she spoiled the children, writes: “Do not worry about your sons, for
+they are entirely well. Their color is rose and white; I can assure you
+that they have not had the slightest illness since they are here. I am
+delighted to have them with me; they are charming.”
+
+In July, Joséphine was shocked to hear of the tragic death of Madame de
+Broc, the most intimate friend of Hortense. In visiting with the Queen
+the cascade of Grésy, which Joséphine had so much admired two years
+before, she slipped upon a wet plank, and fell into the gulf below. She
+was a sister of the wife of Marshal Ney, and a niece of Madame Campan;
+she had been brought up with Hortense, married by her, and after the
+death of her husband had become her inseparable friend. Joséphine
+offered to go at once to her daughter if her presence and her care
+could be of any use to her, and also sent one of her chamberlains. But
+Hortense did not take advantage of this offer, and prolonged her stay
+at Aix until the middle of August. Upon her return she stopped only a
+day at Malmaison and then left with her sons for Dieppe, where she had
+been ordered to take sea baths. The departure of the two boys left a
+great void in the life of Joséphine. Their visit was almost the only
+pleasure she had during this trying year.
+
+In November, the Rémusats came to dine at Malmaison, and brought the
+news that Louis had written the Emperor, expressing the wish to become
+reconciled with him, and not to be separated from him in his hour of
+misfortune. Joséphine, who never treasured up any grudges, expressed
+herself as thinking that this was very praiseworthy on the part of
+Louis. She only feared for her daughter “new torments.” But Hortense
+reassured her on this point. She wrote: “I am not at all uneasy; my
+husband is a good Frenchman; he proves it by returning to France at a
+moment when all Europe declares against her. He is a worthy man, and,
+if our characters are not sympathetic, it is because we have faults
+which cannot be reconciled.”
+
+At this moment Eugène also gave proofs of devotion which contrasted
+strongly with the treachery of Murat and Bernadotte, who were so
+closely connected by marriage with the Bonapartes, and this served
+also to increase the maternal pride of Joséphine. The middle of
+October, Eugène received a letter from his father-in-law, the King of
+Bavaria, announcing his adhesion to the coalition, and suggesting an
+armistice with the Army of Italy. Eugène declined this overture, and
+in his reply expressed his entire devotion to the Emperor. Augusta,
+at the same time, wrote her father in a similar vein, and in a letter
+to the Emperor stated that nothing in the world would ever cause her
+or her husband to forget their duty to him. A month later an aide de
+camp of the King of Bavaria asked for an interview with the Viceroy,
+and presented a letter containing a new offer to assure the future of
+his family. Once more Eugène refused, saying: “It is useless to deny
+that the star of the Emperor is beginning to pale, but it is all the
+greater reason for those who have received benefits from him to remain
+faithful.”
+
+This attitude of Eugène, plainly approved by his wife, could not but
+fill Joséphine and Hortense with pride. “Nothing which is good, noble
+and grand can astonish us on the part of our excellent Eugène,” Augusta
+wrote to her _good mother_, “but since yesterday I am still more
+happy and proud to be the wife of such a man; and to allow you to
+share my joy I hasten to send you a copy of a letter he wrote me after
+having refused a crown they offered him, if he consented to be an
+_ingrat_, and a coward, in fine, to betray the Emperor like the
+King of Naples.”
+
+Notwithstanding this fine attitude on the part of Eugène, the Emperor
+appears to have conceived some doubts of his entire fidelity, which
+perhaps was natural in the midst of so many examples of treason and
+ingratitude. Upon no other basis can we explain the letter he wrote
+to Joseph from Nogent on the 8 February 1814: “My brother, have this
+letter delivered personally to the Empress Joséphine. I have written
+her in order that she may write to Eugène.” Upon receipt of this
+letter, of which the text has been lost, Joséphine wrote her son:
+
+ _To the Viceroy Eugène_
+
+ MALMAISON, 9 February 1814
+
+ Do not lose an instant, my dear Eugène; no matter what the
+ obstacles, redouble your efforts to fulfill the order which the
+ Emperor has given you. He has just written me on this subject.
+ His intention is that you should retire upon the Alps, leaving
+ in Mantua and the (strong) places of Italy only the Italian
+ troops. His letter ends with these words: _France above all!
+ France needs all of her children_. Come then, my dear son,
+ make haste; never will your zeal have better served the Emperor.
+ I can assure you that every moment is precious. I know that
+ your wife was arranging to leave Milan. Tell me if I can be of
+ service to her.
+
+ Adieu, my dear Eugène, I have only the time to embrace you, and
+ to repeat to you to come very quickly.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+At that critical time it took the fastest courier a week to go from
+Paris to Milan, and it was not until the 18 February that Eugène
+received at Volta this letter from his mother. He seems, quite
+naturally, to have resented this new method of the Emperor, in
+transmitting orders to one of his lieutenants through his mother,
+instead of by the Minister of War, or the Chief of Staff. The tone,
+almost of supplication, used by Joséphine, seemed to imply that the
+Emperor doubted his fidelity.
+
+There followed a long correspondence between the Viceroy and the
+Emperor, for which we have no space here. It is all set forth at length
+in the _Mémoires_ of Eugène, to which the reader is referred.
+Eugène attempts, but with poor success, to justify his adhesion to what
+he considered to be the letter, if not the spirit, of the Emperor’s
+orders.
+
+In the meantime the Allies were steadily drawing nearer to Paris, which
+was a hotbed of treason. Even at Malmaison, although she knew it not,
+Joséphine was surrounded by spies and traitors in her own household.
+By decision of the Council of State, and the Emperor’s own orders,
+Marie-Louise and the King of Rome were on the point of leaving for
+Blois. Hortense, who had been commanded to follow the Court, wrote to
+her mother, announcing the news. Joséphine replied:
+
+ _To Queen Hortense, at Paris_
+
+ MALMAISON, 28 March 1814
+
+ My dear Hortense, I had courage up to the moment I received your
+ letter. I cannot think without anguish that I am separating
+ myself from you, God knows for how long a time. I am following
+ your advice: I shall leave to-morrow for Navarre. I have here
+ only a guard of sixteen men, and all are wounded. I shall keep
+ them, but really I have no need of them. I am so unhappy at
+ being separated from my children that I am indifferent to my
+ fate. I am troubled only about you. Try to send me news; keep
+ me informed of your plans, and tell me where you go. I shall at
+ least try to follow you from afar.
+
+ Adieu, my dear daughter: I embrace you tenderly.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+The following morning, which was cold and wet, Joséphine left Malmaison
+with her household. As she was not sure of finding relays at the posts
+en route, she took all of her horses and carriages. In cash, she had
+only about fifty thousand francs which she had borrowed from Hortense
+and one or two friends. In a wadded petticoat were sewn her most
+valuable diamonds and pearls, while her jewelry cases were packed in
+the carriages. It was impossible to carry with her anything more.
+
+She travelled slowly, passing the night at Mantes, and taking two days
+for the journey. She was very well received at Évreux. The authorities
+offered her a guard of honor at the château, for she had left behind at
+Malmaison the sixteen wounded soldiers of the Imperial Guard.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
+
+ 1814
+
+ THE LAST DAYS AT MALMAISON
+
+ Joséphine at Navarre--Arrival of Hortense--The Emperor
+ at Fontainebleau--The Treaty of the 11 April--Provisions
+ for the Family--Joséphine Returns to Malmaison--Hortense
+ Arrives--The Czar Calls--Eugène Leaves Italy--He Is Called to
+ Paris--Hortense, Duchesse de Saint-Leu--Eugène Received by
+ the King--Joséphine’s Fears--Her Final Illness and Death--How
+ Napoleon Received the News--His Visit to Malmaison
+
+
+At Navarre, Joséphine found herself entirely out of touch with
+everything and everybody. The day after her arrival she sent her
+daughter the following letter, the last one which we have in the
+collection of Queen Hortense:
+
+ _To Queen Hortense (at Chartres)_
+
+ NAVARRE, 31 March 1814
+
+ My dear Hortense, ... I cannot tell you how miserable I am.
+ In the painful positions in which I have found myself, I have
+ had courage: I shall have it to bear the reverses of fortune;
+ but I have not sufficient to put up with the absence of my
+ children and the uncertainty of their fate. For two days I have
+ not ceased to shed tears. Send me news of yourself and of your
+ children; if you have any of Eugène and of his family let me
+ know. I very much fear that no news will come from Paris, as the
+ post from Paris to Évreux is suspended, which has caused many
+ rumors. Among other things it is said that the Neuilly bridge
+ has been occupied by the enemy. This would be very near to
+ Malmaison....
+
+ Adieu, my dear daughter, I await your reply to console me. I
+ tenderly embrace you, as well as your children.
+
+ JOSÉPHINE
+
+Hardly was this letter written and despatched when a courier arrived
+from Hortense, with the news that Paris had capitulated, and that the
+Emperor was at Fontainebleau; then Hortense herself suddenly appeared,
+with her children.
+
+After much hesitation, as to whether to leave Paris or to remain, at
+nine o’clock on the night of the 29 March, under the threat of Louis
+to take her children, Hortense had decided to set out, and rejoin
+Marie-Louise. She spent the first night at Glatigny, near Versailles;
+the next morning, at an early hour, she went to the Trianon; and later,
+proceeded to Rambouillet. There she found her brothers-in-law, Joseph
+and Jérôme, and spent the night. The following morning she received a
+courier from Louis bearing a formal order from the Regent to rejoin
+her at Blois. In this Hortense saw another instance of her husband’s
+“persecutions.” She notified Louis, Marie-Louise, and the Emperor, of
+her refusal to obey; ordered her carriage, and started for Navarre.
+At Maintenon she found an escort, and after dark arrived at a château
+belonging to a member of her household. At five o’clock the next
+morning, the first of April, she again started out, and, ten miles
+from Navarre, was met by M. de Pourtalès with some horses sent by her
+mother.
+
+During the night of the second-third April a representative of the
+Duc de Bassano arrived as bearer of definite news from Fontainebleau.
+He recounted the treason of Marmont, the occupation of Paris, and the
+despair of the Emperor. The scene related by Mlle. Cochelet is entirely
+imaginary. No one had then heard of any plan to send Napoleon to Elba,
+and Joséphine could hardly have exclaimed: “But for his wife, I would
+go to join him in his captivity.”
+
+After this, several days passed without further news. On the 7 April
+Joséphine wrote to an old friend, the Comtesse Caffarelli: “Our
+hearts are broken at all that is happening, and particularly at the
+ingratitude of the French. The papers are full of the most horrible
+abuse. If you have not read them, do not take the trouble, for they
+will hurt you.”
+
+In the meantime, at Fontainebleau, during these days of supreme agony,
+Napoleon, “with an admirable lucidity and an admirable justice,” was
+making what may be termed his political testament, and arranging the
+future of his entire family. In the treaty signed on the 11 April by
+the ministers of the allied powers, by the marshals in the name of the
+Emperor, and by all the members of the provisional government--this
+treaty which was the price of his abdication--the Beauharnais received
+the greatest consideration. To the princes and princesses of the
+Imperial family was attributed a revenue of two millions and a half of
+francs, entirely apart from what property they might possess, either
+real or personal. Of this sum, Louis was allowed two hundred thousand
+francs; Madame, Elisa and Pauline, each three hundred thousand;
+Hortense, four hundred thousand; and Joseph and Jérôme each five
+hundred thousand. The allowance of the Empress Joséphine was reduced
+to a million francs, and she too was permitted to retain all of her
+property.
+
+By another article it was provided that Prince Eugène, Viceroy of
+Italy, should receive a “suitable establishment outside of France.”
+
+The night of the 12 April, Napoleon sought by poison the death from
+which he had escaped on so many fields of battle, but in vain. “God
+does not wish it!” he said, and the following morning he in turn signed
+the treaty.
+
+That same day the Duc de Berry landed at Cherbourg, and en route for
+Paris he sent one of the gentlemen who accompanied him, to Malmaison,
+“to offer to Joséphine a guard of honor and to assure her that he would
+be charmed to do everything in his power to be agreeable to her, as he
+had for her as much respect as admiration.” But Joséphine had already
+left Navarre for Malmaison. The 16 April the _Journal des Débats_
+stated: “The mother of Prince Eugène has returned to Malmaison.”
+Joséphine was far from being pleased with this form of announcement.
+
+Alexander immediately sent one of his attendants to announce his visit
+for the following day, and promptly at one-thirty o’clock he arrived.
+It was evident that he had called to see Hortense rather than her
+mother, but he was full of courtesy and deference for Joséphine, and
+gave her all of her titles. After a long call, he left just at the
+moment that Hortense arrived with her sons. “She, who was usually so
+amiable, was hardly so with him; she remained cold, very dignified, and
+made no reply to the offers which the Czar made for herself and her
+children.” As for the Empress Joséphine, “her goodness, her kindness,
+her frankness, all charmed him.”
+
+During the past few weeks Joséphine, in her trouble, for once had
+forgotten to order new gowns, but now her old desire to please and to
+charm returned with full force, and she commanded a number of summer
+frocks, in batiste and embroidered muslin, such as she formerly wore in
+the “beaux jours” at Malmaison.
+
+As Joséphine had expected, Alexander soon returned, but she perceived
+that the visit was for Hortense, who again held herself aloof, and
+treated him “as one should receive the conquerors of her country.” This
+resistance, however, only served to increase the desire of Alexander to
+win her, and he redoubled his attentions.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+On the 17 April, when he received news of the events at Paris,
+Eugène, who up to that time had held the Austrians in check, signed
+an agreement for a suspension of hostilities, and took the route for
+the Alps with the French troops in his army. In a final proclamation,
+which did not mention the name of the Emperor, he made an appeal which
+can only be considered as a personal bid for popular support: “A
+people, good, generous, faithful, has rights upon the remainder of my
+existence, which for ten years past I have consecrated to its service.
+As long as I am permitted to occupy myself with its happiness, which
+was always the dearest concern of my life, I ask for myself no other
+future.”
+
+At the same time Eugène persuaded the Italian troops under his orders,
+to send a deputation in his favor to Paris. But during his absence
+from Milan, three separate factions had developed: one favorable to
+Murat, a second purely Italian, and a third, the strongest and richest,
+for Austria. There was an _émeute_ at the capital, accompanied by
+pillage, and finally a massacre.
+
+When this news reached Mantua, the army acclaimed Eugène as King of
+Italy, and wished to march on Milan, but the Viceroy realized that
+there was no chance against a capital in revolt, and Austria, which
+would send her troops there. “I do not wish,” he said, “to impose
+myself upon a country which does not desire me, ... adding a civil war
+with all its accompanying evils.... The country refuses my support.
+It is enough.” On the 23 April he signed another convention with the
+Austrians in which he surrendered everything, and departed for Munich
+with his wife, and her baby who was only nine days old.
+
+Eugène now had little to expect except under the provisions of the
+Treaty of Fontainebleau, and the gratitude of Austria, fortified by the
+support of Alexander. As soon as Joséphine knew that he was at Munich,
+she wrote to urge him to come to Paris, and on the 9 May he arrived.
+
+In the meantime the relations between the Czar and Hortense had become
+more cordial. He was almost a daily visitor at Malmaison, and was
+now on terms of intimate friendship with Joséphine and her daughter.
+He had offered to procure for the Queen an independent position in
+France, with an adequate revenue; the guardianship of her children;
+and a ducal title, the highest that the King could confer. His thought
+was to separate her interests entirely from any dependence on the
+Emperor or his family. The letters patent, dated by the King in the
+_eighteenth_ year of his reign, conferred the title of Duchesse de
+Saint-Leu, not on Madame Louis Bonaparte, nor on the Queen of Holland,
+but on _Mademoiselle de Beauharnais_! Hortense refused to accept
+this formula. “I think that it is my duty,” she said, “not to allow
+people to forget that I have been a queen, although I do not make it
+a point of being so called.” It was finally arranged that she should
+be designated as Madame de Beauharnais, and her susceptibilities were
+satisfied.
+
+There is little doubt that Joséphine wished to be confirmed in her
+title of Duchesse de Navarre, but she refused to sign the letter to the
+King prepared for her by Madame de Rémusat. There is reason to think,
+however, that she wrote another, in which she asked for Eugène the
+dignity of constable, the highest military gift in the power of the
+King to bestow.
+
+Eugène also had neglected nothing to conciliate the Bourbons. On his
+departure from Munich, he wrote the King to announce his visit, for as
+he said to his wife, “I could not think of arriving at Paris, without
+at once presenting myself to him.” He had hardly reached Malmaison, and
+embraced his mother and sister, before he received a summons to appear
+at the Tuileries.
+
+When Eugène was announced, under the title of Marquis de Beauharnais,
+it is reported that the King arose from his chair, and advanced to meet
+him, cordially extending his hand. He then exclaimed to the person who
+had presented the Viceroy: “Say, His Highness Prince Eugène, Monsieur,
+and add Constable of France, if such is his good pleasure!” This report
+rests upon the authority of the editor of the _Mémoires du Prince
+Eugène_, and may be true: it is certain that the Bourbons did
+everything in their power to detach the Beauharnais from their adhesion
+to the Emperor.
+
+On the 14 May the Czar came informally to dine with Hortense, who was
+now settled at Saint-Leu. Joséphine was present, but there were no
+strangers except Caulaincourt and the wife of Marshal Ney. During the
+drive in open carriages through the park, the Czar was very kind and
+amiable, and expressed himself both to Eugène and Hortense as desirous
+of doing everything in his power to assure their future.
+
+Joséphine had come only upon the urgent request of Hortense; she was
+sad and discouraged. She had but little confidence in the promises
+of the Czar, and felt that after his departure the Bourbons would do
+nothing. She realized better than her children how little confidence
+could be placed in royal promises. When she read two days later in the
+official journal that the Emperor of Russia had gone to Saint-Leu to
+dine with “Prince Eugène, his mother and sister,” her comments were
+very bitter. There seemed to be a deliberate intention to deny her the
+position and rank which had been accorded her.
+
+This visit to Saint-Leu was the beginning of Joséphine’s illness, which
+was to terminate fatally exactly two weeks later. She took a severe
+cold, which she refused to care for, saying that it was nothing. In
+the evening she descended for dinner, clad in one of her lightest
+décolleté gowns. After breakfast the following morning she returned to
+Malmaison.
+
+Monday, the 23 May, the King of Prussia came to call at Malmaison,
+and remained for dinner. He was accompanied by his two sons, of whom
+one was later to be known as the Emperor William. The following day
+Joséphine had to receive the Russian grand-dukes, Nicholas and Michel.
+These official receptions, these visits of ceremony, fatigued her
+terribly. In the evening she came to dinner as usual. Later there was a
+dance, and she opened the ball with the Czar; then they went into the
+park, where they promenaded for a long time, and she took more cold.
+
+Wednesday, the 25 May, a small eruption appeared all over her body,
+but principally upon her arms and chest. Eugène and Hortense, who
+were themselves both suffering from colds, were vaguely disturbed,
+but far from anticipating a fatal result. He wrote Augusta that day:
+“Our mother has been suffering for two days, and this morning she
+has considerable fever; the doctor says that it is only catarrh, but
+I do not think she is at all well.” The following night her regular
+physician found her tongue affected and her whole head congested, and
+applied a blister to her neck.
+
+Friday, the 27 May, Alexander was to have dined with Joséphine for
+the last time before leaving for London. On his arrival with several
+other guests, he found both Joséphine and Eugène ill in bed, and only
+Hortense able to receive the party, who all left early except the Czar.
+
+Saturday, the illness of the Empress became so grave that there was
+a consultation of physicians. Eugène wrote his wife that he did not
+think his mother would live through the day. That night Joséphine
+begged Hortense, who was nearly worn out, to retire and get a little
+rest.
+
+Sunday, the 29 May, which was Whit Sunday, it was evident that
+Joséphine was dying. Her features had sensibly changed, and her
+respiration was short and difficult. Hortense sent for Eugène, and
+at noon Joséphine expired in their arms. Just before her death the
+sacraments were administered by the Abbé Bertrand, tutor of Hortense’s
+children, as Joséphine’s almoner was absent. According to legend, the
+last delirious words of the Empress were: “Napoleon ... Elba!”
+
+On Monday the body was embalmed and placed in a lead coffin enclosed
+in oak. The public were now admitted to Malmaison, and it is estimated
+that more than twenty thousand people passed before the bier.
+
+The funeral took place on Thursday, the 2 June, when the coffin was
+taken to the church at Rueil. All of the sovereigns present at Paris
+were represented, and there was a large crowd at the church. The
+military honors were furnished by a detachment of the Russian Imperial
+Guards.
+
+Joséphine’s tomb is at the right hand of the choir of the church.
+It is of white marble, with a kneeling figure of the Empress in her
+coronation robes. The inscription runs simply:
+
+ A
+ JOSEPHINE
+ EUGENE ET HORTENSE
+ 1825
+
+There was nothing mysterious about the death of Joséphine: no
+indication, and no suspicion of poison; nevertheless there were rumors
+that such was the cause of her death. The autopsy left no doubts as to
+the origin and the progress of the malady: a cold, not cared for, and
+aggravated by her imprudence.
+
+Two hours after the death of Joséphine, in compliance with sovereign
+etiquette, Eugène and Hortense left Malmaison for Saint-Leu, and were
+not present at the funeral. Although they sent out the usual notices of
+the death of their mother, neither one of them seems to have taken the
+trouble to inform Napoleon of the event. He learned the news through
+a paper sent him from Genoa by a valet whom he had sent to France,
+charged with commissions for several persons, including Joséphine
+herself. “At the news of her death,” writes an eye-witness, “he
+appeared profoundly afflicted; he shut himself up in his room, and saw
+no one except the grand marshal.”
+
+A year later, before leaving Paris for the fatal campaign of Waterloo,
+Napoleon wished to visit Malmaison, and was met there by Hortense, who
+had not had the courage to return since the fatal day. For an hour he
+walked with Hortense in the garden, talking only of Joséphine. Then
+he visited one by one the different rooms, ending with the chamber
+where Joséphine had died. Here he remained for a long time alone, and
+came out with his eyes filled with tears. “Poor Joséphine,” he said to
+Hortense, “she may have had her faults, but she at least would never
+have abandoned me!”
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
+
+ 1763–1814
+
+ JOSEPHINE’S PERSONALITY
+
+ Her Connection with Martinique--Her Statue at
+ Fort-de-France--Her Legend--Her Claims to Beauty--Her
+ Intellect--Her Prodigality--Her Personal Magnetism--Her
+ Affections--Her Desire to Please--Her Falsehoods--Her Final
+ Deception--Her Succession--Fate of Her Homes--Napoleon’s Last
+ Visit to Malmaison--The _Souvenir de Malmaison_
+
+
+As the life of Napoleon will always be associated with the names of
+three small islands: Corsica, Elba, and Saint Helena; so that of
+Joséphine will ever be connected with Martinique. There is little of
+interest in the capital city, Fort-de-France, apart from the Savane,
+the large green public square, and there the visitor will be attracted
+mainly by the beautiful marble statue of the Empress. “Sea-winds have
+bitten it; tropical rains have streaked it; some microscopic growth has
+darkened the exquisite hollow of the throat. And yet such is the human
+charm of the figure that you almost fancy you are gazing at a living
+presence. Perhaps the profile is less artistically real--statuesque to
+the point of betraying the chisel; but when you look straight up into
+the sweet Creole face, you can believe she lives: all the wonderful
+West Indian charm of the woman is there. She is standing just in front
+of the Savane, robed in the fashion of the First Empire, with gracious
+arms and shoulders bare: one hand leans upon a medallion bearing the
+eagle profile of Napoleon.... Over the violet space of summer sea,
+through the vast splendor of azure light, she is looking back to the
+place of her birth, back to the beautiful drowsy Trois-Îlets--and
+always with the same half-dreaming, half-plaintive smile--unutterably
+touching.”
+
+The statue so lovingly described by Hearn may be said to bear about the
+same relation to the real woman that the Joséphine of romance bears
+to the Joséphine of history. Since her death a hundred and ten years
+ago, the legend of Joséphine has passed through three phases. Under the
+Restoration, it was Joséphine the protector of the Émigrés that all
+good Royalists were called on to lament. The key-note was struck by the
+Archbishop of Tours in his funeral oration: “How many unfortunates,
+condemned, by their fidelity to the august family of the Bourbons, to
+live in exile from their fatherland, are beholden to her persistent and
+touching intercession for their restoration to their families, and to
+the country which saw their birth?”
+
+Under the Second Empire, the writers who wished to curry favor with
+the new Emperor devoted special attention to Joséphine, and one would
+almost be led to believe that he occupied the throne by right of
+descent from his grandmother the Empress Joséphine, rather than as
+heir to his uncle the Emperor Napoleon. “Joséphine was painted as the
+sorrowful martyr to necessities of State. She was the fondly loving
+wife repudiated after fourteen years of faithful wedlock.”
+
+Under the Third Republic, the admirers of the Great Emperor, less
+fettered in their views, have gone as far in the other direction:
+they deny to Joséphine any attachment to Napoleon except that of
+self-interest, and blame him only for not repudiating her sooner.
+
+As usual, the truth of History lies between these two extremes.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+It will always be a moot point how a woman possessed of so little
+intellect, and endowed with no surpassing physical beauty, managed to
+gain, and retain for fourteen years, the love of a man six years her
+junior, and that man Napoleon!
+
+First, with regard to her beauty: We have innumerable portraits of
+Joséphine, for she loved to be painted, and sat to all the celebrated
+artists of her day: David, Gérard, Gros, Isabey, Prud’hon and many
+others. None of these portraits gives the idea of a beautiful woman.
+
+The written descriptions of her appearance are even more unflattering.
+It is impossible to forget the picture of the faded Creole, past her
+prime, endeavoring to hide the ravages of time by an extravagant use of
+powder and rouge; the closed lips which concealed her bad teeth; all
+the artifices to supply the deficiencies of nature. But on the other
+hand we have the admissions even of unfriendly observers that her eyes
+were beautiful, her smile always charming, her figure slender, supple,
+well-proportioned, needing no corset to support it; always clothed in
+the most perfect taste. To complete the picture we have the graceful
+movements of her elegant, indolent body, for in the words of Napoleon,
+“she was graceful even in going to bed”; and the harmony of her soft,
+caressing voice, which could soothe and put the Emperor to sleep even
+when most harassed by the cares of State.
+
+All the memoirs of her time are agreed in stating that Joséphine
+had but little intellect, but they are almost equally in accord in
+admitting that she supplied the deficiency by her marvellous _savoir
+faire_. Her education had been only rudimentary, and she never
+increased her knowledge by reading. There was an excellent library at
+Malmaison, and there was always a reader on her staff, chosen more for
+her beauty than for any other qualification, but no one ever heard of
+Joséphine opening a book except to read Napoleon to sleep.
+
+Joséphine was a great collector, and the château of Malmaison was a
+regular museum of valuable paintings, choice statuary, and rare objets
+d’art. But there is nothing to show that she prized her collection
+except for the value it represented in money. It was only another
+exhibition of her mania for spending. It must be admitted, however,
+that Joséphine loved her flowers and her plants, and her hothouses and
+gardens were the finest in Europe.
+
+That Joséphine was prodigal in her expenditures of money cannot be
+denied, but altogether too much has been made of her debts by Monsieur
+Masson and other recent biographers. The matter has already been quite
+fully covered in these pages, and it is not necessary to go into it
+further here. Napoleon’s wrath at the discovery of her debts, and the
+terror of Joséphine during these “scenes,” were both largely assumed.
+It has even been said that “Napoleon liked her to be in debt because
+it made her utterly dependent on him”! It must be remembered, however,
+that, as Napoleon once stated: “It is fortunate that the French are to
+be ruled through their vanity.” All of the display and the etiquette of
+the Imperial Court were irksome to Napoleon, with his simple tastes,
+but he endured them because it was part of his policy. For the same
+reason he expected Joséphine to spend lavishly the handsome allowance
+he gave her, although with his love of order he did not wish her to
+exceed her income. It was all a part of his general policy of fostering
+the industries of the country, which has made France what it is to-day,
+the leader in the manufacture of articles of luxury and display in
+every line.
+
+The secret of Joséphine’s attraction for Napoleon appears to have
+been that rare quality which, for lack of a better term, we may call
+personal magnetism. She was one of those exceptional characters who
+seem to possess the natural gift of attracting others while themselves
+giving little or nothing in return. But to win all hearts as she did,
+Joséphine at bottom must have possessed a large fund of human sympathy.
+All agree in speaking of her affability; she was “gentle and kind,
+affable and indulgent to all, without respect to persons.”
+
+The Joséphine of legend is emphatically “_la bonne Joséphine_.”
+She could never refuse a request: she was always giving lavishly,
+indiscriminately. It was also impossible for her to treasure up
+grievances against any one--even the Bonapartes who did so much to
+injure her. With Napoleon’s mistresses, she displayed the same lack of
+resentment. She received Madame Walewska at Malmaison, and lavished
+affection upon her child. She made Madame Gazzani one of her chosen
+attendants after her divorce.
+
+Joséphine has frequently been accused of loving no one but herself, but
+her letters to her children show that she was a very affectionate and
+demonstrative mother, and she was certainly a doting grandmother. It
+seems hardly possible that she was insincere, or that, as one writer
+puts it, “Joséphine’s affections were a vigorous expression of her
+self-love.”
+
+No one can question the fact of Napoleon’s love for Joséphine, which
+lasted as long as he lived; and certainly after his return from Egypt
+she was to him a model wife. She anticipated his every wish; she
+never kept him waiting; she was always ready to accompany him on his
+journeys; she went cheerfully through the most arduous social duties;
+and exerted herself to conciliate all whom he wished to win to his
+interests. From Napoleon she extorted the admiring exclamation: “I win
+battles; Joséphine wins hearts!”
+
+In fact Joséphine was an _enjôleuse_: to win, to seduce, by
+cajoleries, by caresses, by soft words--in short, _to please_,
+was the principal aim of her existence. Even where she had no end to
+gain, where no self-interest was involved, she strove to please simply
+because it gave her pleasure. It was to please that she embellished her
+home; that she spent a fortune on jewels and toilettes; that she wore
+herself out with visits, receptions, and journeys; that she triumphed
+over her headaches, neglected her colds, and went to her death. This
+explains all: this is the true key to her character.
+
+This also is the explanation of her falsehoods, for by the testimony of
+all her contemporaries, friends and foes alike, Joséphine was one of
+the greatest liars who ever lived. If she has succeeded in imposing on
+history, it is largely due to the fact that she imposed on Napoleon,
+which in itself is no small feat! He was convinced that she loved only
+him; he represents her as the model wife--attentive, affectionate, and
+devoted; he thinks she is extravagant, but how elegant and how graceful
+she is! how beautifully she dresses! how she excels in everything she
+does! For him she is the perfect woman!
+
+By a supreme falsehood, and this one posthumous, she leaves with her
+attendants the impression, and with Napoleon the conviction, that she
+dies of love for him, overwhelmed by the disasters of France and the
+Empire, in despair because she could not share his fate at Elba, and
+mollify by her loving tenderness the rigors of his exile.
+
+On the day after his return from Elba, in March 1815, he said to
+Corvisart at the Tuileries: “You let my poor Joséphine die!”
+
+Then he sent for Horau, her regular physician, and demanded the fullest
+details of her death:
+
+“What was the cause of her illness?”
+
+“Anxiety ... chagrin....”
+
+“You say that she was anxious, what was the cause of her chagrin?”
+
+“What had taken place, Sire; the position of Your Majesty.”
+
+“Ah! then, she spoke of me?”
+
+“Often, very often.”
+
+“Good woman, good Joséphine! She loved me truly, did she not?”
+
+This conviction remained with Napoleon until the end of his life, and
+in speaking of Joséphine at Saint Helena, he exclaimed: “She was the
+best woman in France!”
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Aside from her two châteaux of Malmaison and Prégny, and her fine
+collection of jewels, Joséphine left little of value at the time of
+her death. In the settlement of her estate, Eugène took Malmaison, and
+assumed the payment of her debts, while Hortense received Prégny and
+her jewels, the share of each of her children amounting to about two
+million francs when the estate was finally settled.
+
+Of all the places closely associated with the life of Joséphine, only
+Malmaison remains to-day. During the lifetime of Eugène, a large part
+of the estate was cut up and sold in parcels. In June 1829, five years
+after his death, in the final settlement of his estate it was found
+necessary to sell the château. After passing through several hands,
+it was bought in 1861 by Napoleon the Third and made a museum of
+Napoleonic souvenirs. During the Franco-Prussian war it was pillaged
+by the Germans and damaged by fire. Finally it was purchased, early
+in the present century, by a Jewish millionaire, who had the generous
+thought of restoring it as nearly as possible to its former condition
+and presenting it to the State as a museum of relics of Napoleon and
+Joséphine.
+
+Prégny, which was taken by Hortense, as her portion of the real estate,
+was sold by her in 1817 for about one hundred thousand francs. Nearly
+all of the furniture was removed by Hortense, but the buildings remain
+in the same condition as in the time of Joséphine.
+
+Under the terms of the grant to the Empress, at her death Navarre
+passed to Eugène, and from him to his eldest son, Auguste. In 1834 this
+prince married the Queen of Portugal, but died at Lisbon less than
+four months later. He was succeeded as Duc de Navarre by his brother
+Maximilian, who married the Grande-Duchesse Marie of Russia, daughter
+of Czar Nicholas. On his death in 1852 the title was claimed by his son
+Prince Nicholas, but the French Government refused its assent, on the
+ground that, as a member of the imperial family of Russia, he could
+not swear fidelity to the Emperor of the French. It was thus that the
+grandson of Prince Eugène was deprived by his cousin Napoleon the Third
+of the duchy erected by Napoleon the First, and by virtue of a clause
+in the original grant which four successive Governments of France had
+neglected to invoke! But long before this date the estate of Navarre
+had been sold by the heirs of Eugène, with the permission of the
+Government, and the proceeds, over a million francs, invested in French
+bonds.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+On the Sunday following the battle of Waterloo, the 25 June 1815,
+Napoleon left Paris for the last time, and went to Malmaison. Here,
+before departing for his final exile, he spent four days in wandering
+through the château and the park, as if in search of the beloved shade
+which in disappearing from his life seemed to have taken with it his
+happiness and his fortune.
+
+Such, charming and exquisite, she lives in his memory, to soften his
+agony and soothe his exile, and such, after the lapse of a hundred
+years, she still appears in the eyes of posterity.
+
+“In vain,” says Monsieur Masson, “in vain have we been compelled to
+tell the truth about her, to throw upon her life the light of History:
+the legend still prevails. Her memory will never suffer from what has
+been written--even from what has been proven.
+
+“In the dispersal and quick disappearance of the things she loved,
+there remains only the name of a flower: the _Souvenir de
+Malmaison_, and thus her image, and the emblem of her life, will be
+one of these lovely roses, tender and fragile, bright and nacreous,
+which she loved and named.... When for a brief moment the rose has
+given us a vision of its grace, a petal loosens and falls, then
+another, and another, until finally it is like a fall of fragrant snow,
+projecting into the warm atmosphere hardly the repressed vibration of a
+sigh; but the fragrance of the withering petals long floats on the air,
+and perfumes the room.”
+
+With this beautiful thought we take our leave of Napoleon’s charming
+“little Creole.”
+
+
+
+
+ BIBLIOGRAPHY
+
+
+There are very few books on Joséphine, either in French or in English.
+Little is known about her early years, and after her marriage to
+Napoleon, her career is so identified with that of her husband that
+most of the information regarding her is to be found in the numerous
+biographies, histories and memoirs devoted to the life of the Emperor.
+
+ AUBENAS, J. A., _Histoire de l’impératrice Joséphine_, Paris,
+ 1858–1859. 2 vols. An excellent history, written by one who had
+ made a careful examination of all the material then available,
+ both in France and in Martinique, and whom we may call the
+ official biographer of Joséphine. He alone had access to the
+ archives of the Tascher family, and to him we owe most of our
+ knowledge of the first fifteen years of her existence.
+
+ HALL, H. F., _Napoleon’s Letters to Joséphine_, (1796–1812).
+ Trans. 1903.
+
+ LE NORMAND, M. A., _Mémoires historiques et secrets de
+ Joséphine_, Paris, 1820. 2 vols. These so-called “mémoires,”
+ falsely attributed to Joséphine herself, were published
+ four years after her death. Napoleon was then in exile; his
+ enemies were in power again; and this book was intended
+ as a propitiatory offering to royalty. The author was an
+ unprincipled, unscrupulous woman, Mlle. Le Normand, who
+ was a professional fortune-teller of Paris. The book is as
+ untrustworthy as the _Mémoires_ of Barras.
+
+ _Lettres de Napoléon à Joséphine_, Paris, 1833. 2 vols. These
+ volumes contain the letters of Napoleon to Joséphine from
+ 1796 to 1813, also the letters from Joséphine to her daughter
+ from 1794 to 1814. The publication of this correspondence
+ was authorized by Queen Hortense, who had the letters in her
+ possession. These letters are of extreme interest, as they
+ reveal the innermost thoughts of the Emperor, and throw a strong
+ side-light on his character, as well as on that of Joséphine.
+
+ MASSON, F., _Joséphine_, Paris, 1899–1902. 3 vols. Also
+ _Napoléon et sa famille_. Paris, 1896–1919. 13 vols. Masson was
+ the greatest authority upon the history of the Emperor and his
+ family. His works are remarkable for the abundance of their
+ intimate details and the exactitude of their documentation.
+
+ OBER, FREDERICK A., _Joséphine, Empress of the French_, New
+ York, 1895. A popular English biography, based on the French
+ history of M. Aubenas. The author seems to be familiar with
+ Martinique, and gives many intimate details of Joséphine’s early
+ life.
+
+ SAINT-AMAND, IMBERT DE, _Joséphine_, Paris, 1887. 5 vols.
+ Published under different titles. The author presents Joséphine
+ in the most favorable light, and at the same time displays great
+ admiration for the Emperor.
+
+ SERGEANT, PHILIP W., _The Empress Joséphine_, London, 1908. 2
+ vols. The best English biography: well written, accurate, and
+ very fair in its treatment both of Joséphine and Napoleon.
+
+ TURQUAN, JOSEPH, _L’Impératrice Joséphine_, Paris, 1895–1896. 2
+ vols. The first volume, entitled _La générale Bonaparte_, covers
+ the period from Vendémiaire to the end of the Consulate; the
+ second, the Empire and the years subsequent to the divorce. The
+ author makes much of the early scandals in Joséphine’s life, and
+ is very unfair in his presentation of the facts.
+
+
+ MEMOIRS
+
+ AVRILLON, MLLE., _Mémoires sur la vie privée de Joséphine_,
+ Paris, no date (about 1835). 2 vols. The author, who describes
+ herself as “première femme de chambre de l’impératrice,” was
+ with Joséphine from 1804 to 1814. While possessing no great
+ historic value, these memoirs are interesting and readable.
+
+ BOURRIENNE, L. A. F. DE, _Mémoires_, Paris, 1829–1831. 10
+ vols. Trans. London, 1893. 4 vols. Also new French edition,
+ Paris, 1899–1900. 5 vols. A vivid, but untrustworthy picture of
+ Napoleon and Joséphine. The stories of the author’s very close
+ friendship are open to suspicion.
+
+ JUNOT, LAURE (Duchesse d’Abrantès), _Mémoires_, Paris,
+ 1833–1834. 18 vols. Trans. Very vivacious, but full of slanders
+ and sarcasms in her portrayal of the Emperor and his wife. Not
+ trustworthy.
+
+ RÉMUSAT, MME. DE, _Mémoires_, Paris, 1879–1880. 3 vols. Also
+ trans. She was a _dame du palais_ of Joséphine, and her memoirs
+ give a very vivid description of the Consular and Imperial
+ Courts. The original manuscript was burnt during the Hundred
+ Days, as the author feared that her attacks on Napoleon might
+ get her into trouble. The memoirs which we have now were written
+ in 1818, and show a desire to gain favor with the Royalists.
+
+
+
+
+ INDEX
+
+
+ Abrantès, Duchesse d’, 59
+
+ Alexander, Czar, 235, 367, 369, 371, 372
+
+ Anne, Grand Duchess of Russia, 320
+
+ Arenberg, Mme. d’, _see_ Tascher, Stéphanie
+
+ Arnault, author, 60, 63, 64
+
+ Artois, Comte d’, 130, 138
+
+ Aubenas, author, 11
+
+ Augusta of Bavaria, (wife of Eugène), 188, 193, 221, 360
+
+ Avrillon, Mlle., author, 155, 171, 173, 288, 293, 354
+
+
+ Bacciochi, Prince Félix, 69
+
+ Bacciochi, Princesse, _see_ Bonaparte, Élisa
+
+ Barral, Archbishop, 376
+
+ Barras, director, 44–46, 48
+
+ Bausset, palace prefect, 287–291
+
+ Beauharnais, Alexandre, birth (28 May 1760), 8;
+ his early years, 12;
+ education, 13;
+ Mme. Renaudin’s interest in him, 13;
+ enters the army, 14;
+ plans for his marriage, 15;
+ letter of his father, 15;
+ marriage to Joséphine (19 Dec. 1779), 18;
+ sails for Martinique (1782), 19;
+ repudiates Joséphine, 20;
+ returns to France (1783), 21;
+ refuses reconciliation, 22;
+ separation arranged (1785), 22;
+ elected to States-General (1789), 27;
+ president of the Assembly (1791), 29;
+ flight of the Royal family, 29;
+ retires to the country, 30;
+ rejoins the army, 30;
+ commands Army of Rhine, 31;
+ his disgraceful failure, 32;
+ resigns command, 32;
+ retires to Blois, 34;
+ arrested and imprisoned (1794), 34;
+ his execution, 35;
+ his daughter’s pride in him, 107
+
+ Beauharnais, Eugène, birth (3 Sept. 1781), 19;
+ on staff of Hoche, 39;
+ in school at Saint-Germain, 44;
+ claims his father’s sword, 49;
+ intercedes for his mother, 83;
+ his treatment by the Emperor, 144;
+ at the Marengo review, 170;
+ made Viceroy of Italy, 172;
+ marriage to Augusta, 192–194;
+ his character and appearance, 192;
+ adopted by the Emperor, 193, 258;
+ summoned to Paris (Dec. 1809), 296;
+ his difficult position, 296;
+ arranges final conference, 297;
+ refuses Crown of Italy, 297;
+ his address to the Senate, 301;
+ visits his mother at Aix, 334;
+ also at Navarre, 344;
+ brings news of birth of King of Rome, 345;
+ at Paris before Russian campaign, 350;
+ given command of Grand Army, 356;
+ attitude towards Napoleon, 359;
+ the Emperor’s suspicions (1814), 360;
+ letter from Joséphine, 361;
+ leaves Italy, 368;
+ called to Paris, 369;
+ received by the King, 370;
+ part in Joséphine’s estate, 382
+
+ Beauharnais, François, 6–8, 10, 15
+
+ Beauharnais, Hortense, birth (10 April 1783), 20;
+ repudiated by her father, 20;
+ goes to Martinique with her mother, 24;
+ placed in Mme. Campan’s school, 44;
+ intercedes for her mother, 84;
+ plans for her marriage, 102;
+ her appearance and character, 106;
+ love of her mother, 107;
+ pride in her father, 107;
+ early dislike of Napoleon, 107;
+ fancy for Duroc, 108;
+ wounded by infernal machine, 109;
+ marriage to Louis, 112;
+ hostess at Tuileries, 199;
+ births of her children, 200;
+ Queen of Holland, 201;
+ residence at The Hague, 201;
+ visit to Mayence, 201;
+ death of Charles, 225;
+ her despair, 226;
+ letters from the Emperor, 228–231;
+ visit to Cauterêts, 239;
+ reconciliation with Louis, 239;
+ return to Fontainebleau, 239;
+ her illness, 239;
+ refuses to return to Holland, 247;
+ birth of Louis-Napoleon (Napoleon III), 267;
+ her interview with Napoleon at time of divorce, 292;
+ abdication of Louis, 335;
+ visits her mother at Aix, 336;
+ also at Navarre, 344, 365;
+ at Malmaison (1814), 367;
+ receives the Czar, 367;
+ created Duchesse de Saint-Leu, 370;
+ entertains the Czar, 371;
+ at her mother’s deathbed, 373;
+ part in Joséphine’s estate, 382;
+ at Malmaison with Napoleon (1815), 383
+
+ Beauharnais, Stéphanie, (Grand Duchess of Baden), 195, 197, 246,
+ 247
+
+ Bonaparte, Caroline, (Mme. Murat), 92, 112, 142, 155
+
+ Bonaparte, Élisa, (Mme. Bacciochi), 69, 142, 155
+
+ Bonaparte, Jérôme, 124, 171, 238, 246
+
+ Bonaparte, Joseph, 78, 99, 127, 269
+
+ Bonaparte, Letitia, (Mme. Mère), 69, 149
+
+ Bonaparte, Louis, 103, 104, 105, 106, 111, 112, 198–201
+
+ Bonaparte, Louis-Napoleon, (Napoleon III), 267, 357
+
+ Bonaparte, Lucien, 78, 98, 102–103, 123, 257
+
+ Bonaparte, Napoleon-Charles, 200, 225
+
+ Bonaparte, Napoleon-Louis, 157, 200
+
+ Bonaparte, Pauline, (Mme. Leclerc, later Princesse de Borghèse),
+ 69, 120, 155
+
+ Borghèse, Prince de, 121
+
+ Bouillé, Marquis de, 19, 29
+
+ Bourrienne, secretary, 199
+
+ Broc, Mme. de, 358
+
+
+ Cadoudal, Georges, 130–134
+
+ Calmelet, 53
+
+ Cambacérès, 140, 285, 303
+
+ Caprara, Cardinal, 112, 145
+
+ Carnot, director, 99
+
+ Catherine, of Würtemberg, (wife of Jérôme), 238, 246
+
+ Caulaincourt, 135, 320
+
+ Charles, Hippolyte, 65, 78
+
+ Charles, Grand Duke of Baden, 188, 195, 196
+
+ Charles, King, (of Spain), 263–269
+
+ Cochelet, Mlle., reader to Hortense, 366
+
+ Corvisart, Dr., 381
+
+
+ David, painter, 150
+
+ Dénuelle, Mlle., 225
+
+ Dupont, General, 270
+
+ Duroc, grand marshal, 108, 115, 256
+
+
+ Emmery, merchant, 39
+
+ Enghien, Duc d’, 134–137
+
+ Eugène, Prince, _see_ Beauharnais
+
+
+ Ferdinand, Prince, (of Spain), 263–269
+
+ Fesch, Cardinal, 148, 153, 321
+
+ Flahaut, Charles de, 336
+
+ Fouché, minister, 100, 102, 139, 252–254, 278, 286
+
+ Fourès, Mme., 80
+
+
+ Gazzani, Mme., reader to Joséphine, 246, 380
+
+ Georges, Mlle., actress, 119
+
+ Girardin, Stanislas, 279
+
+ Gohier, director, 86
+
+
+ Hatzfeld, Prince, 206
+
+ Hoche, General, 35, 38
+
+ Horau, Dr., 381
+
+ Hortense, _see_ Beauharnais
+
+
+ Isabey, painter, 152
+
+
+ Joséphine, birth (23 June 1763), 9;
+ confusion of dates, 9;
+ childhood, 12;
+ education, 12;
+ appearance and character, 12;
+ she takes her sister’s place, 16;
+ arrives in France, 17;
+ first marriage (19 Dec. 1779), 18;
+ life in Paris, 18;
+ birth of Eugène (3 Sept. 1781), 19;
+ departure of Alexandre, 19;
+ birth of Hortense (10 April 1783), 20;
+ repudiated by Alexandre, 20;
+ he returns to France, 21;
+ refuses reconciliation, 22;
+ separation arranged (1785), 22;
+ her sojourn at Panthémont, 23;
+ residence at Fontainebleau, 24;
+ voyage to Martinique (1788), 24–26;
+ returns to France (1790), 28;
+ residence in Paris, 29;
+ house at Croissy, 32;
+ imprisoned in the Carmes (1794), 34;
+ execution of Alexandre, 35;
+ she is released, 37;
+ her behavior in prison, 37;
+ returns to Croissy, 38;
+ relations with Hoche, 38;
+ financial straits, 39–40;
+ her banker Emmery, 39;
+ her love of luxury, 41;
+ intimacy with Mme. Tallien, 41;
+ their similar tastes, 42;
+ her new home Rue Chantereine (Oct. 1795), 42;
+ places children in school, 44;
+ liaison with Barras, 45–47;
+ during 13 Vendémiaire, 48;
+ meets Bonaparte (15 Oct.), 49;
+ her appearance at that time, 50;
+ letter to Bonaparte, 51;
+ her hesitation about marriage, 52;
+ final consent, 53;
+ marriage to Bonaparte (9 March 1796), 54;
+ his departure for Italy, 54;
+ his first letter, 56;
+ her indifference, 56;
+ his second letter, 57;
+ hesitation to rejoin him, 59;
+ at of battle flags, 60;
+ her life at Paris, 63;
+ starts for Italy (July), 64;
+ regret at leaving, 64;
+ arrival at Milan, 65;
+ her ennui there, 66;
+ letter to Mme. Renaudin, 66;
+ her delayed honeymoon, 67;
+ court at Montebello (1797), 69;
+ her aid to Napoleon’s policy, 70;
+ she returns to Paris (Jan. 1798), 72;
+ attends Talleyrand fête, 73;
+ suspicious letter to Barras, 74;
+ accompanies Bonaparte to Toulon (May), 75;
+ goes to Plombières, 76;
+ serious accident, 77;
+ buys Malmaison, 77;
+ intrigue with Charles, 78;
+ hears of Bonaparte’s return (Oct. 1799), 83;
+ fails to meet him, 83;
+ their reconciliation, 84;
+ her debts paid, 84;
+ rôle in coup d’état, 85;
+ moves to Luxembourg, 87;
+ life there, 88;
+ her important rôle, 90;
+ devotion to Napoleon, 90;
+ secret of her power, 90;
+ her royalism, 90;
+ assistance to émigrés, 91;
+ importance to Napoleon’s policy, 91;
+ interest in marriage of Murat, 92;
+ moves to Tuileries (Feb. 1800), 93;
+ the new society, 94;
+ visits to Malmaison, 95;
+ her fears of divorce, 101;
+ the disgrace of Lucien, 103;
+ chooses Louis for Hortense, 103;
+ the infernal machine (Dec.), 109;
+ narrow escape, 109;
+ dismay over public attitude, 110;
+ visit to Plombières, 112;
+ marriage of Hortense (Jan. 1802), 112;
+ trip to Normandie, 116;
+ her appearance at 40, 117;
+ her life at Saint-Cloud, 118;
+ scene of jealousy at Tuileries, 119;
+ visit to Belgium, 127;
+ pacific counsels to Bonaparte, 131;
+ reveals plans regarding Duc d’Enghien, 136;
+ hailed as Empress (18 May 1804), 141;
+ her fine attitude, 143;
+ at the fêtes of 14 July, 144;
+ visit to Banks of the Rhine, 145;
+ return to Saint-Cloud, 147;
+ triumph over the Bonapartes, 149;
+ religious marriage (Dec.), 153;
+ at the Coronation, 154–155;
+ her daily life, 158–168;
+ places of residence, 158;
+ frequent changes at Tuileries, 159, 160;
+ her rooms at Saint-Cloud, 161;
+ daily routine, 162;
+ personal attendants, 162;
+ her toilette, 163;
+ lingerie and robes, 164;
+ lavish expenditures, 165;
+ debts paid by the Emperor, 166;
+ life at Tuileries, 167;
+ journey to Italy (1805), 169;
+ at Milan coronation (26 May), 171;
+ grief over elevation of Eugène, 172;
+ her husband’s attachment, 173;
+ the Genoa fêtes, 174;
+ return to France, 174;
+ visit to Plombières, 175;
+ sojourn at Strasbourg, 177;
+ Napoleon’s letters, 178–182;
+ goes to Munich, 184;
+ her selfishness, 186;
+ at marriage of Eugène (Jan. 1806), 187–195;
+ return to Paris, 195;
+ goes to Mayence (1806), 202;
+ Napoleon’s letters, 203–212;
+ return to Paris, 220;
+ her cordial welcome, 220;
+ her loneliness, 221;
+ birth of Eugène’s daughter, 221;
+ grief at death of Charles (May 1807), 226;
+ meets Hortense at Laeken, 226;
+ Napoleon’s letters, 228–231;
+ return to Paris, 232;
+ letters to Hortense, 233;
+ at the Fontainebleau fêtes, 246–247;
+ the divorce first proposed, 249;
+ refuses to take initiative, 251;
+ action in reply to Fouché’s letter, 252–253;
+ death of her mother, 256;
+ letters during Napoleon’s trip to Italy, 259;
+ her fear of divorce, 261;
+ a remarkable episode, 262;
+ marriage of her cousin, Mlle. de Tascher, 262;
+ sojourn at Bayonne (1808), 264;
+ joins Napoleon at Marrac, 267;
+ joy over birth of Louis-Napoleon (April), 267;
+ return to Saint-Cloud, 270;
+ left at Paris during Erfurt meeting, 272;
+ also during Spanish campaign, 275;
+ letters of the Emperor, 276;
+ she reveals the succession plot, 279;
+ goes to Strasbourg, 280;
+ Napoleon’s letters, 281–284;
+ meets Emperor at Fontainebleau (1809), 286;
+ her cold reception, 286;
+ her appearance at 46, 288;
+ receives announcement of divorce (30 Nov.), 289;
+ a pretended swoon, 290;
+ the final fêtes, 294;
+ arrival of Eugène, 296;
+ final conference, 297;
+ address at the divorce (15 Dec.), 299;
+ departure for Malmaison, 303;
+ her legend, 304;
+ her dowry, 306;
+ her debts paid, 307;
+ first days at Malmaison, 307;
+ visits and letters from Emperor, 308–317;
+ Christmas dinner at Trianon, 311;
+ her interest in Austrian marriage, 313;
+ goes to Élysée palace, 318;
+ returns to Malmaison, 322;
+ presented with Navarre (1810), 322;
+ its dilapidated condition, 324;
+ worried over Paris gossip, 326;
+ letter to Napoleon and his reply, 327–328;
+ he agrees to her plans, 329;
+ she returns to Malmaison, 330;
+ her Court there, 331;
+ anxiety about Hortense, 332;
+ visit from the Emperor, 333;
+ goes to Aix-les-Bains, 334;
+ visit from Eugène, 334;
+ informed of Louis’ abdication, 335;
+ narrow escape, 336;
+ arrival of Hortense, 336;
+ tour of Switzerland, 337;
+ upset by reports regarding Marie-Louise, 337–339;
+ rejects advice of Mme. de Rémusat, 340;
+ returns to Malmaison, 341;
+ monotonous life at Navarre (1811), 342;
+ her health improved, 343;
+ visits from her children, 344;
+ her fête-day, 344;
+ news of birth of King of Rome (March), 345;
+ her debts paid again, 346;
+ plans new chateau at Malmaison, 349;
+ exchanges Élysée for Laeken, 349;
+ passes winter at Malmaison, 350;
+ visit to Milan (1812), 351;
+ sojourns at Aix and Prégny, 352;
+ return to Paris, 352;
+ hears of Malet plot, 353;
+ anxiety over Moscow disaster, 353;
+ meets King of Rome (Dec. 1812), 355;
+ visit from Hortense’s sons, 357;
+ news of death of Mme. de Broc, 358;
+ writes Eugène at request of Emperor (1814), 361;
+ leaves for Navarre, 363;
+ arrival of Hortense, 365;
+ news of abdication (April), 366;
+ returns to Malmaison, 367;
+ receives the Czar, 367;
+ fears for her children, 371;
+ final illness and death (29 May), 372;
+ her association with Martinique, 375;
+ her statue at Fort-de-France, 375;
+ her legend, 376;
+ her claims to beauty, 377;
+ her intellect, 378;
+ her prodigality, 378;
+ her magnetism, 379;
+ her desire to please, 380;
+ her affections, 380;
+ her falsehoods, 381;
+ her final deception, 381;
+ fate of her homes, 382;
+ her succession, 382;
+ her memory, 384
+
+ Jouberthou, Mme., (wife of Lucien), 123
+
+ Junot, General, 263
+
+ Junot, Mme., _see_ Abrantès
+
+
+ La Rochefoucauld, Duc de, 13, 14
+
+ Lavalette, General, 67, 275
+
+ Lavoisier, 27
+
+ Leclerc, General, 69
+
+ Leclerc, Mme., _see_ Bonaparte, Pauline
+
+ Léon, (son of Napoleon), 225
+
+ Louis-Napoleon, _see_ Bonaparte
+
+ Louis XVIII, 100
+
+ Louisa, Queen, 205, 235
+
+
+ Marie-Louise, Empress, 321, 337, 362
+
+ Maximilian, King of Bavaria, 188, 190
+
+ Méneval, secretary, 115, 302
+
+ Metternich, Mme., 312–313
+
+ Metternich, Prince, 314
+
+ Moreau, General, 131–133
+
+ Murat, General, 92, 112, 207, 264
+
+
+ Napoleon, during 13 Vendémiaire (Oct. 1795), 48;
+ returns sword to Eugène, 49;
+ meets Joséphine (15 Oct.), 49;
+ her letter to him, 51;
+ his first letter, 51;
+ decides on marriage, 52;
+ civil ceremony (9 March 1796), 54;
+ leaves for Italy, 54;
+ first letter during campaign, 56;
+ his victories, 58;
+ second proclamation, 58;
+ sends for Joséphine, 59;
+ victory of Lodi (10 May), 61;
+ enters Milan (15 May), 62;
+ his delayed honeymoon, 67;
+ end of campaign, 68;
+ his letters to Joséphine, 68;
+ court of Montebello (1797), 69;
+ the family reunion (June), 69;
+ peace of Campo-Formio (Oct.), 71;
+ leaves for Rastadt, 71;
+ returns to Paris (Dec.), 71;
+ at the Talleyrand fête (2 Jan. 1798), 73;
+ clash with Mme. de Staël, 73;
+ buys Hôtel Chantereine, 74;
+ his tour of inspection, 74;
+ his fortune, 75;
+ leaves for Toulon, 75;
+ sails for Egypt (19 May), 76;
+ hears reports of Joséphine’s infidelity, 79;
+ liaison with Mme. Fourès, 80;
+ leaves Egypt (Aug. 1799), 82;
+ lands at Fréjus (9 Oct.), 83;
+ reaches Paris (16 Oct.), 83;
+ pardons Joséphine, 84;
+ pays her debts, 84;
+ during the coup d’état (9–10 Nov.), 86–87;
+ made Consul, 87;
+ moves to Luxembourg (11 Nov.), 87;
+ life there, 88;
+ marries Caroline to Murat (Jan. 1800), 92;
+ moves to Tuileries (19 Feb.), 93;
+ life there, 94;
+ visits to Malmaison, 94;
+ the château, 95;
+ his affability, 95;
+ his problems as First Consul, 96;
+ success of his administration, 97;
+ reception after Marengo (July), 97;
+ the “Conspiracy,” 98;
+ answers the Pretender, 100;
+ decision to amend Constitution, 101;
+ disgraces Lucien, 103;
+ the infernal machine (24 Dec.), 109;
+ public demands for an heir, 110;
+ made Consul for Life (2 Aug. 1802), 114;
+ takes possession of Saint-Cloud, 114;
+ his apartments, 115;
+ establishes court etiquette, 115;
+ trip to Normandie, 116;
+ absent at marriage of Pauline, 120;
+ enraged over marriages of Lucien and Jérôme, 123–124;
+ celebrated scene with British ambassador, 126;
+ visit to Belgium, 127;
+ episode at Mortefontaine, 128;
+ first suggestions of the Empire, 128;
+ reception at Brussels, 129;
+ the Royalist conspiracies, 130;
+ jealousy of Moreau, 131–132;
+ his trial and exile, 133;
+ execution of Duc d’Enghien (21 March 1804), 135–138;
+ proclaimed Emperor (18 May), 139;
+ yields to his family, 143;
+ his treatment of Eugène, 144;
+ at the 14 July fêtes, 144;
+ visit to Channel ports and the Rhine, 145;
+ return to Saint-Cloud, 147;
+ plans for Coronation, 148;
+ reception of Pope, 151;
+ religious marriage (1 Dec. 1804), 153;
+ ceremony at Notre-Dame, (2 Dec.), 154–156;
+ baptism of Napoleon-Louis, 157;
+ payment of Joséphine’s debts, 166;
+ journey to Italy, 169;
+ review at Marengo, 170;
+ reconciliation with Jérôme, 171;
+ coronation at Milan (26 May 1805), 171;
+ his satisfaction, 172;
+ makes Eugène Viceroy of Italy, 172;
+ his reproof of Joséphine, 172;
+ his attachment to her, 173;
+ at the Genoa fêtes, 174;
+ return to France, 174;
+ letters during Austerlitz campaign, 178–182;
+ arrival at Munich (31 Dec.), 187;
+ plans for family alliances, 188;
+ overcomes opposition, 190;
+ summons Eugène, 191;
+ marries him to Augusta (Jan. 1806), 194;
+ reception at Paris, 195;
+ marries Stéphanie to Charles (April), 195;
+ makes Louis King of Holland (5 June), 198;
+ during campaign of Jena, 202–207;
+ letters to Joséphine, 203–207;
+ enters Berlin, 205;
+ the Hatzfeld episode, 206;
+ goes to Poland, 208;
+ first meeting with Marie Walewska (Jan. 1807), 213;
+ beginning of their liaison, 215;
+ he orders Joséphine to return to Paris, 215;
+ minimizes his losses at Eylau, 217;
+ quarters at Osterode, 218;
+ letter to Joseph, 218;
+ letters to Joséphine, 219;
+ moves to Finckenstein, 222;
+ joined by Mme. Walewska, 222;
+ dictates as to Joséphine’s friends, 223;
+ birth of his son Léon, 225;
+ death of his nephew Charles (May), 225;
+ his apparent indifference, 231;
+ letters to Joséphine, Hortense and others, 228–231;
+ letters from Friedland and Tilsit, 234;
+ declines rose of Queen Louisa, 235;
+ return to Paris, 236;
+ makes Talleyrand vice-grand-elector, 237;
+ his fête (15 August), 238;
+ marries Jérôme to Catherine, 238;
+ takes part of Hortense against Louis, 239;
+ the Court at Fontainebleau, 240–248;
+ his grandeur described by Mme. de Rémusat, 241;
+ Napoleon’s power in 1807, 242;
+ his program of entertainment, 242;
+ his ennui, 244;
+ affair with Mme. Gazzani, 246;
+ reproves Jérôme, 246;
+ raises question of divorce, 249;
+ rebukes Fouché for meddling, 254;
+ goes to Italy, 257;
+ meets Lucien, 257;
+ adopts Eugène, 258;
+ letters to Joséphine, 259;
+ irresolution as to divorce, 262;
+ a remarkable scene, 262;
+ interest in Spanish crisis (1808), 263;
+ goes to Bayonne (April), 264;
+ sojourn at Marrac, 265;
+ letters to Empress, 265;
+ makes Joseph King of Spain (June), 269;
+ hears of Baylen disaster, 270;
+ returns to Saint-Cloud (Aug.), 270;
+ at the Erfurt conference (Sept.-Oct.), 271–274;
+ opens his heart to Alexander, 272;
+ instructs Talleyrand to open negotiations, 273;
+ letters to Joséphine, 274;
+ leaves for Spain (Nov.), 275;
+ his letters during campaign, 276;
+ return to Paris (Jan. 1809), 278;
+ scene at Tuileries, 278;
+ leaves for Strasbourg, 280;
+ wounded at Ratisbon, 280;
+ letters to the Empress, 281–284;
+ returns to Fontainebleau (Oct.), 284;
+ informs Cambacérès of divorce, 285;
+ cold reception of Joséphine, 286;
+ his hesitation, 288;
+ final announcement of divorce (30 Nov.), 289;
+ a comic episode, 290;
+ verdict of History, 290;
+ his sincere regret, 291;
+ interview with Hortense, 292;
+ the final fêtes, 294;
+ _contretemps_ at Grosbois, 295;
+ arrival of Eugène, 296;
+ final conference, 297;
+ address at divorce (15 Dec.), 298;
+ leaves for Trianon, 302;
+ annulment of marriage, 303;
+ liberality to Joséphine, 306;
+ pays her debts, 307;
+ visits to Malmaison, 308–317;
+ Christmas dinner at Trianon, 311;
+ allows Joséphine to return to Paris (1810), 313;
+ his preference for Russian alliance, 319;
+ calls a conference (Jan.), 320;
+ marriage arranged with Marie-Louise, 320;
+ her arrival in Paris (March), 321;
+ advises Joséphine to leave, 322;
+ her formal letter, 327;
+ his cordial reply, 328;
+ he agrees to Joséphine’s plans, 329;
+ informs her of Louis’ abdication, 335;
+ writes about Marie-Louise, 337;
+ consents to her return, 340;
+ writes of birth of King of Rome (1811), 345;
+ again pays Joséphine’s debts, 346;
+ agrees to exchange Laeken for Élysée, 349;
+ comments on Malet conspiracy (1812), 354;
+ returns from Moscow (Dec.), 354;
+ last meeting with Joséphine (Dec.), 355;
+ gives Eugène command of Grand Army, 356;
+ his errors in campaign of 1813, 357;
+ suspicious of Eugène (1814), 360;
+ asks Joséphine to write him, 360;
+ his first abdication (6 April), 366;
+ his political testament, 366;
+ news of Joséphine’s death, 374;
+ his last visits to Malmaison (1815), 374, 383;
+ his belief in Joséphine, 383
+
+ Napoleon II, King of Rome, 345, 355
+
+ Napoleon-Charles, _see_ Bonaparte
+
+ Napoleon-Louis, _see_ Bonaparte
+
+ Nelson, Lord, 76
+
+
+ Patricol, tutor, 13
+
+ Patterson, Miss, (wife of Jérôme), 124, 171
+
+ Pichegru, 130–134
+
+ Pius VII, Pope, 148–157
+
+ Provence, Comte de, 100
+
+
+ Rapp, aide de camp, 110
+
+ Rémusat, Mme. de, 68, 116, 119, 126, 133, 194, 241, 310, 326, 340
+
+ Renaudin, Mme., (aunt of Joséphine), 7, 13, 15, 16, 17, 66
+
+
+ Salicetti, 61
+
+ Savary, minister, 137
+
+ Staël, Mme. de, 73
+
+
+ Talleyrand, minister, 73, 100, 129, 137, 189, 237, 244, 249, 253,
+ 254, 255, 262, 273, 274, 278
+
+ Tallien, 41
+
+ Tallien, Mme., 41–42
+
+ Tascher de la Pagerie (family of Joséphine), 4–5, 10–11, 15–16, 25
+
+ Tascher, Stéphanie (Mme. d’ Arenberg), 262
+
+
+ Walewska, Marie, 213–224, 283, 380
+
+ Whitworth, Lord, 126
+
+
+Transcriber’s Notes:
+
+1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been
+corrected silently.
+
+2. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have
+been retained as in the original.
+
+3. Italics are shown as _xxx_.
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77637 ***
generated by cgit v1.2.3 (git 2.25.1) at 2026-04-03 21:58:33 +0000